desecrate

/ˈdesɪkreɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdesɪkreɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈde-si-ˌkrāt/ (ame, mw)

desecrate — 動詞

  • desecratepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • desecrateshe / she / it
  • desecratedpast simple
  • desecrating-ing form

1. to deliberately damage, harm, or show disrespect toward something that people co

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

褻瀆

對神聖事物不敬或破壞

to deliberately damage, harm, or show disrespect toward something that people consider sacred or deeply important, especially a religious building, burial site, or national symbol

例句

Local vandals desecrated the war memorial by painting offensive slogans on it last night.

當地的破壞者昨晚在戰爭紀念碑上塗寫攻擊性標語，褻瀆了這座紀念碑。

collocation: desecrate + war memorial / monument

The ancient chapel was desecrated when soldiers used it as a stable during the siege.

那間古老的禮拜堂在圍城期間被士兵當作馬廄使用，因而遭到褻瀆。

passive: was desecrated when [event]

同義詞
  • profane

    focuses on treating holy things with contempt or irreverence, not necessarily causing physical damage

  • defile

    broader — can mean making something unclean or spoiling its purity, not limited to religious contexts

  • violate

    much broader — means to break a rule or intrude upon something; desecrate is specifically about sacred things

反義詞
  • consecrate

    to make something holy, the opposite of desecrate

  • sanctify

    to set apart as sacred; to treat with the respect that desecrate violates

  • venerate

    to show deep respect for something sacred, the positive counterpart

文法句型

desecrate + noun phrase (sacred place / object / site)

用法筆記

The object of desecrate is always something considered holy or of great importance to a community — religious sites, cemeteries, national symbols, or revered objects. It is rarely used for ordinary places or everyday items. Frequently used in passive constructions when the focus is on the damaged sacred thing rather than the perpetrator.

常見錯誤

❌The children desecrated the living room by spilling juice.
✅The children made a mess of the living room by spilling juice.
💡desecrate is only for things considered sacred or deeply respected, not everyday messes.
❌Thieves desecrated the museum and stole the paintings.
✅Thieves robbed the museum and stole the paintings.
💡stealing from a place is not the same as showing deliberate disrespect to something sacred.