What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
desecrating
Example
The vandals were arrested for desecrating the church. [desecrating: verb]
Example
The soldiers were accused of desecrating the graves of fallen enemies. [desecrating: gerund or present participle]
defile
Example
The river was defiled by the factory's toxic waste. [defiled: past tense]
Example
The protesters were arrested for defiling the national flag. [defiling: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Defile is more commonly used than desecrate in everyday language. Defile is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while desecrate is less common and is mostly used in religious contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between desecrating and defile?
Both desecrate and defile are formal words that are typically used in serious or legal contexts.
