# desecrated

/dɛsəˈkɹeɪtɪd/ (US) · /dˈɛsɪkɹˌeɪtɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/desecrated
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

to damage or show great disrespect for something holy or deeply respected, like a grave, church, or memorial.

For teachers: past tense and past participle of 'desecrate'; to treat a sacred place, object, or memory with contempt, typically by damaging or violating it.

## Examples

- The chapel looks desecrated after the attack.
- The community was shocked to find that vandals had desecrated the historic cemetery overnight.
- After the war, returning villagers found their desecrated shrine covered in graffiti, a painful reminder of the violence that had swept through the valley.

## Synonyms

defile, profane, violate, vandalize, deface

## Antonyms

consecrate

## Usage notes

- Transitive; takes a direct object, often a sacred place or object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.