defile

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "defile" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when speaking of something that has been made unclean, immoral, or tainted in some way. For example: "The dictator used his power to defile the small town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Even if it doesn't end up a national obsession, the US Skins doesn't defile the legacy of the original.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The Towers of Silence in Mumbai (and places such as Hyderabad) have found an alternative in powerful solar concentrators which desiccate the corpse admittedly not in the half-hour that a hungry flock of vultures accomplished, but which still keep to Zarathushtra's injunction not to defile the elements.

The Guardian

The trial against the members of Pussy Riot provides an opportunity to use the language of moral outrage to paint those opposed to Mr Putin and the Russian government as louche and untrustworthy, the embodiments of exactly the sort of outside forces that seek to defile Russia and its traditions.Religious and bureaucratic tongues have become blurred.

The Economist

He had seen him frozen in a blanket in a corpse-strewn defile on the retreat from Kabul in 1842; almost split neatly in two by a grinning Chinaman in a top-knot while running guns down the Yangtse in 1860; struggling in an Indian swamp, after the great ghat massacre at Cawnpore, with what looked like man-eating crocodiles; and charging, by accident, for the Russian guns at Balaclava.

The Economist

The chief rabbis said ritually impure Jews should stay out for fear that they might defile the temple's Holy of Holies, its inner sanctum, whose precise spot was unknown.That prohibition is being eroded.

The Economist

The prohibition is based on the fear that ritually impure Jews may defile the Holy of Holies, the most sacred part of the former temple, whose precise whereabouts is unknown.

The Economist

The worst sacrilege of all was to defile the Host of the Eucharist, an act generally punishable by torture and death.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One feels insecure in a low cave or a narrow defile, exhilarated and powerful on a hilltop; these are psychological and motor reactions that result from measuring one's potential for movement against the surrounding spaces, and the same reactions take root even in language ("confining" circumstances and "elevating" experiences are spoken of).

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was repelled equally by the revolutionaries who wished to destroy society through terror in order to construct a better one without realizing that their methods would defile human dignity, and by the reactionaries, who, in blindly opposing all progress, eventually provoked revolutionary uprisings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It lies along the Weser River, near a defile known as the Westfalica Gate where the river leaves the mountains and enters the North German Plain, west of Hannover.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Valley of the Kings, Arabic Wādī Al-Mulūk, also called Valley of the Tombs of the Kings or Arabic Wādī Bībān al-Mulūk, long narrow defile just west of the Nile River in Upper Egypt.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the word "defile", consider the specific nuance you want to convey. If you are referring to something sacred being violated, "desecrate" might be more appropriate. If you mean to make something impure, "contaminate" or "pollute" might be better choices.

Common error

Avoid using "defile" in overly casual or informal settings. Its strong connotations of desecration and impurity can sound overly dramatic or out of place in everyday conversation. Opt for more neutral terms like "dirty" or "spoil" if the context is not serious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "defile" is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. Ludwig AI confirms that "defile" is used to indicate the action of making something impure or violating its sanctity, as illustrated in many examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "defile" is a transitive verb commonly used to describe the act of making something impure, dirty, or violating its sanctity. Ludwig AI confirms this, and examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian illustrate its consistent application in serious and formal contexts. While grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedias, it is advisable to reserve its use for situations where the gravity of desecration or impurity is genuinely intended. Alternatives such as "contaminate" or "desecrate" may provide more precise nuance depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contaminate

Refers to making something impure or unsuitable by contact with something unclean or harmful. This alternative focuses on the physical or moral corruption.

pollute

Similar to contaminate, but often used in the context of the environment or abstract concepts. This alternative also emphasizes the introduction of harmful substances or elements.

desecrate

Specifically refers to violating the sanctity of a sacred place or object. The alternative emphasizes the disrespect and irreverence involved.

taint

Implies spoiling or contaminating something, often in a moral or abstract sense. This alternative suggests a lasting negative impact.

corrupt

Indicates moral decay or the loss of integrity. This alternative focuses on the breakdown of ethical principles.

violate

This suggests breaking or disregarding a law, promise, or someone's rights, often with force or disrespect. The alternative stresses the act of transgression.

profane

To treat (something sacred) with irreverence or disrespect. This alternative shares a similar meaning to desecrate and also emphasizes the disrespect and irreverence involved.

dishonor

Bring shame or disgrace on (someone or something). The alternative emphasizes the loss of respect or esteem.

debase

Reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade. The alternative focuses on the lowering of something's status or worth.

sully

Damage the purity or integrity of; defile. The alternative focuses on the tarnishing of something's reputation or character.

FAQs

How can I use "defile" in a sentence?

You can use "defile" to describe the act of making something impure or violating its sanctity. For example, "The vandals sought to "desecrate" the temple with graffiti" or "The chemical spill threatened to "pollute" the river and "defile" the surrounding ecosystem."

What is the difference between "defile" and "desecrate"?

"Defile" generally means to make something impure or dirty, while "desecrate" specifically refers to violating the sanctity of something sacred. Desecration is a specific type of defilement.

What can I say instead of "defile"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "contaminate", "pollute", "desecrate", or "taint".

Is "defile" a formal word?

Yes, "defile" is generally considered a formal word due to its strong connotations and usage in serious or solemn contexts. More casual synonyms might be more appropriate in informal settings.