desecrating 1 of 3

adjective

as in blasphemous

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desecrating

2 of 3

noun

as in desecration

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desecrating

3 of 3

verb

present participle of desecrate
as in violating
to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect vandals desecrated the cemetery last night by covering the tombstones with graffiti

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desecrating
Verb
French's post led to a flurry of other posts on social media calling for violence against Indian communities, including desecrating Hindu temples and statues. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Without criminal consequences, operators who profit from desecrating the dead have nothing to fear. — Susana Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026 But as building efforts have ramped up, the administration has run into opposition from landowners, environmental groups, and Native American tribes who say construction is violating property rights and desecrating sacred Indigenous sites. — Mikella Schuettler, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 After desecrating the statue, the vandal returns the hammer to his pocket, scales the fence and flees into the night, the footage shows. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 After desecrating a sacred hunting ground in their youth, four Blackfeet men are visited by dire consequences in adulthood. — Hannah Whitten, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026 The penalty is identical to that for desecrating the flag or other national emblem of a foreign state, which was already in place. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 July 2026 One is about civic commonality, the other about authoritarian cynicism; one is about a city pulling together around a common pleasure, the other about desecrating the decorum of democracy. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026 And a coke-snorting, heirloom-desecrating, funeral-crashing adversary at that. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desecrating
  1. blasphemous
  2. desecration
  3. violating
  4. sacrilegious
  5. wrecking
  6. profane
  7. destruction
  8. irreverent
Adjective
  • The publication led to global outrage, with many Muslims finding the depictions highly offensive and blasphemous.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The image of him, his attire a blasphemous betrayal of the wholesome fun a clown costume promises, and with vibrant, colorful balloons in his hand, lingers in our minds for a long time.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of blasphemous
Noun
  • The gang steals sacred objects, but their movements around them can resemble ceremony not desecration.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • These are two examples of politicians' truths among a plethora of others that are really lies, distortions, deceptions and desecrations of the citizens' trust in them.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of desecration
Verb
  • In the letter, Omar's attorneys accused the Justice Department of violating longstanding agency policy designed to avoid potentially influencing an election.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • He was arrested again a week later after violating a protection order by trying to contact the woman, according to the arrest affidavit.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of violating
Adjective
  • The tweak The Improper Pig made to a coveted Southern brunch dish might be considered sacrilegious in some kitchens, but the result is a delicious argument for bending tradition.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
  • As sacrilegious as this might sound to devout Bears fans, Johnson was equipped inside Halas Hall this offseason with Green Bay Packers highlights as a teach tape.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of sacrilegious
Noun
  • At least, there was a lot less wrecking.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.
    — The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Definition of wrecking
Adjective
  • Seaver acknowledged being overly crude and profane in his messages to Nozell.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • People who post puerile, profane or belittling comments are protesters on a virtual street.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of profane
Noun
  • The end of saving money and raising middle-class wages justifies the means, namely, the destruction of immigrant families.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The destruction releases vast stores of carbon, adding to climate change that is already contributing to drought and forest fires across the tropics.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of destruction
Adjective
  • Vintage shearling scraps sourced from Vinted and embroidered squirrel motifs extended the collection’s irreverent approach.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But none of that martial-arts mayhem is as compelling as the battle being waged behind the scenes as director Kitao Sakurai tries to insert his irreverent, ironic approach into a property resistant to that kind of impish goofing around.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of irreverent

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Cite this Entry

“Desecrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desecrating. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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