defile Definition
- 1to make something dirty or impure
- 2to violate the chastity of a woman
- 3a narrow passage or gorge, especially one between two mountains
Using defile: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "defile" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The river was defiled by chemicals from the factory.
Example
He was accused of defiling a young girl.
Example
The troops marched through the mountain defile.
defile Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with defile
Example
The army had to pass through the defile to reach the other side of the mountain.
Example
He defiled himself by stealing from his own company.
to say or do something that makes people have a worse opinion of someone
Example
The article defiled his character by accusing him of dishonesty.
Origins of defile
from Old French 'defouler', meaning 'trample down'
Summary: defile in Brief
The verb 'defile' [dih-fahyl] means to make something dirty or impure, or to violate the chastity of a woman. It can also refer to a narrow passage or gorge, especially one between two mountains. Examples include 'The river was defiled by chemicals from the factory' and 'He was accused of defiling a young girl.' Phrases include 'the defile,' 'defile oneself,' and 'defile somebody's character.'
