'Desecrate' definitions:
Definition of 'desecrate'
From: WordNet
verb
Violate the sacred character of a place or language; "desecrate a cemetery"; "violate the sanctity of the church"; "profane the name of God" [syn: desecrate, profane, outrage, violate]
verb
Remove the consecration from a person or an object [syn: desecrate, unhallow, deconsecrate] [ant: bless, consecrate, hallow, sanctify]
Definition of 'Desecrate'
From: GCIDE
- Desecrate \Des"e*crate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desecrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desecrating.] [L. desecratus, p. p. of desecrare (also desacrare) to consecrate, dedicate; but taken in the sense if to divest of a sacred character; de- + sacrare to consecrate, fr. sacer sacred. See Sacred.] To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to put to an unworthy use; -- the opposite of consecrate. [1913 Webster]
- The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment without being previously desecrated. --W. Tooke. [1913 Webster]
- The founders of monasteries imprecated evil on those who should desecrate their donations. --Salmon. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'desecrate'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abuse,
- adulterate,
- alloy,
- befoul,
- canker,
- cheapen,
- coarsen,
- commit sacrilege,
- confound,
- contaminate,
- convert,
- corrupt,
- debase,
- debauch,
- defalcate,
- defile,
- deflower,
- degenerate,
- degrade,
- denature,
- deprave,
- depredate,
- desolate,
- despoil,
- devalue,
- devastate,
- devour,
- dishonor,
- distort,
- divert,
- embezzle,
- foul,
- infect,
- maladminister,
- misapply,
- misappropriate,
- misemploy,
- mishandle,
- mismanage,
- misuse,
- peculate,
- pervert,
- pilfer,
- pillage,
- poison,
- pollute,
- profane,
- prostitute,
- ravage,
- ravish,
- sack,
- spoliate,
- taint,
- twist,
- ulcerate,
- violate,
- vitiate,
- vulgarize,
- warp,
- waste