desecration
n. C / U C1 Advanced US //dɛsəˈkɹeɪʃən// UK //dˌɛsɪkɹˈeɪʃən// des·e·cra·tion
n. the act of damaging or destroying something holy or sacred. It can also mean treating a place or object with great disrespect.
n. the act of damaging, destroying, or treating something sacred or holy with contempt. Often used in legal or religious contexts to describe the violation of a grave or a place of worship.
The desecration of the ancient temple was a crime.
The community was shocked by the desecration of the local cemetery, where several headstones were deliberately broken.
While the physical damage was eventually repaired, the desecration of the historical site left a lasting scar on the cultural identity of the region.