Definitions and Examples of defile, pollute
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To make something dirty, impure, or unclean.
Example
The factory's waste products defiled the nearby river, making it unsafe for swimming.
To contaminate something with harmful substances or pollutants.
Example
The car's exhaust fumes polluted the air, causing respiratory problems for people living nearby.
Key Differences: defile vs pollute
- 1Defile refers to making something dirty or impure, often in a physical sense.
- 2Pollute refers to contaminating something with harmful substances or pollutants, often in an environmental sense.
Effective Usage of defile, pollute
- 1Environmental Issues: Use pollute to describe the contamination of air, water, or soil.
- 2Religious Context: Use baptize to describe the Christian sacrament of initiation into the faith.
- 3Moral Connotations: Use defile to describe actions that are considered immoral or unethical.
Remember this!
The antonyms have distinct nuances: Defile refers to making something dirty or impure, while pollute refers to contaminating something with harmful substances or pollutants. Use these words in different contexts such as environmental issues, religious context, and moral connotations.