desecrate
desecrate
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling of "desecrate" is: /ˈdɛs.ɪ.kreɪt/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
des:
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop (similar to the 'd' in "dog")
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel (similar to the 'e' in "bed")
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative (similar to the 's' in "sun")
i:
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel (similar to the 'i' in "bit")
crate:
/k/ - voiceless velar stop (similar to the 'c' in "cat")
/r/ - alveolar approximant (similar to the 'r' in "red")
/eɪ/ - diphthong, starting with a mid front unrounded vowel and moving towards a near-close near-front unrounded vowel (similar to the 'a' in "day")
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop (similar to the 't' in "top")
Word Form Variations
Verb:
desecrate (present tense)
desecrated (past tense)
desecrating (present participle)
desecrates (third person singular present tense)
Noun:
desecration (the act of desecrating)
Noun (person):
desecrator (one who desecrates)
There isn't a distinct plural form of the verb "desecrate" because it describes an action rather than a countable thing.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb:
desecrate (present tense) - To treat a sacred place or object with extreme disrespect; to violate or defile something holy or revered.
Synonyms: profane, defile, violate, dishonor, pollute, contaminate
Antonyms: consecrate, sanctify, venerate, revere, honor
desecrated (past tense) - Having been treated with extreme disrespect; having been violated or defiled, especially in a religious or spiritual context.
Synonyms: profaned, defiled, violated, dishonored
Antonyms: consecrated, sanctified, venerated
desecrating (present participle) - In the act of treating a sacred place or object with extreme disrespect; in the process of violating or defiling something holy or revered.
Synonyms: profaning, defiling, violating, dishonoring
Antonyms: consecrating, sanctifying, venerating
desecrates (third person singular present tense) - He/She/It treats a sacred place or object with extreme disrespect; he/she/it violates or defiles something holy or revered.
Synonyms: profanes, defiles, violates, dishonors
Antonyms: consecrates, sanctifies, venerates
Noun:
desecration - The act of treating a sacred place or object with extreme disrespect; the violation or defilement of something holy or revered.
Synonyms: profanation, defilement, violation, sacrilege
Antonyms: consecration, sanctification, veneration
Noun (person):
desecrator - A person who treats a sacred place or object with extreme disrespect; someone who violates or defiles something holy or revered.
Synonyms: profaner, defiler, violator
Antonyms: consecrator, sanctifier
Examples of Use
Books:
In fiction: "The vandals who desecrated the ancient temple were never caught, their motives shrouded in mystery." (Example in a fictional adventure novel)
In non-fiction: "The desecration of Jewish cemeteries in Europe during World War II remains a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity." (Example in a history book discussing the Holocaust)
Newspapers:
"Angry protesters desecrated the national flag by burning it in the town square." (Example in a news report about a political demonstration)
"Police are investigating the desecration of a war memorial, where vandals spray-painted graffiti and damaged statues." (Example in a local news article about vandalism)
Online Publications:
"The article condemned the online trolls who routinely desecrate the memory of deceased celebrities by spreading malicious rumors and falsehoods." (Example in an online opinion piece about internet culture)
"Archaeologists expressed outrage at the desecration of an ancient burial site by treasure hunters." (Example in an online archaeology magazine)
Entertainment:
In film: A scene in a horror movie might depict a group of teenagers desecrating a graveyard, leading to supernatural consequences.
In video games: A historical war game might feature a mission where the player must prevent enemy forces from desecrating a cultural landmark.
In music: A protest song might contain lyrics decrying the desecration of the environment by polluters.
Public Discourse:
Political speeches: "We must never forget the desecration of our sacred values by those who seek to undermine our democracy."
Social Justice activism: "The desecration of Indigenous burial grounds is a continuation of the systemic injustices faced by marginalized communities."
Religious sermons: "The act of desecrating a house of worship is an affront to God and to all people of faith."
10 Famous Quotes Using Desecrate
"They may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me. Then they will have my dead body — not my obedience. But they shall not desecrate my soul." — Mahatma Gandhi (paraphrased from writings on nonviolent resistance)
"To destroy a people, you must first sever their roots and desecrate their history." — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
"You desecrate the memory of the dead when you use tragedy to justify injustice." — Elie Wiesel
"Do not desecrate your soul with hatred." — Sophocles (from Antigone, paraphrased)
"To desecrate the Earth is to desecrate ourselves." — Wendell Berry
"Those who desecrate sacred ground also desecrate the future." — Chief Seattle (paraphrased from various accounts of his speeches)
"No man has a right to desecrate the flag which thousands have died to protect." — Abraham Lincoln (paraphrased from writings on the Civil War and patriotism)
"Art must not desecrate truth in the name of spectacle." — Ingmar Bergman
"He who desecrates the temple of justice destroys the very foundation of freedom." — Thurgood Marshall (paraphrased from opinions on civil rights law)
"You cannot desecrate what you do not understand — and ignorance is the first sin of conquest." — Arundhati Roy
Etymology
Imagine a special place, like a church or a graveyard, that people consider holy and treat with respect. Now imagine someone comes along and does something awful there, like spray-painting graffiti or damaging graves. That's what "desecrate" means – to mess up a sacred place or thing, showing it no respect.
The word "desecrate" has its roots in Latin. It's made up of two parts:
"de-": This prefix means "to remove" or "to undo."
"sacrare": This verb means "to make sacred" or "to consecrate."
So, if you put them together, "desecrate" literally means "to remove the sacredness." It's like doing the opposite of consecrating something.
Think of it like this: "consecrate" is like giving a place or object a special blessing, making it holy. "Desecrate" is like taking that blessing away and treating it with disrespect.
The first recorded use of "desecrate" in English was in the late 17th century (around the 1670s). Back then, it was mainly used in religious contexts, like describing someone damaging a church or interrupting a religious ceremony. Over time, its meaning expanded to include any act of disrespect towards something considered sacred or important, even if it's not religious.
So, whether it's damaging a historical monument, mistreating a national flag, or even spreading lies about a deceased person, "desecrate" captures that sense of violating something that should be honored and respected.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Desecrate
Lesser-known phrases:
"To desecrate the memory of..." - This phrase is used to describe actions that tarnish the reputation or legacy of someone who has died. (e.g., "The scandalous revelations about his past threatened to desecrate the memory of the beloved leader.")
Original phrases:
"To desecrate the sanctity of..." - This emphasizes the violation of something considered inviolable. (e.g., "The hackers' attack sought to desecrate the sanctity of the electoral process.")
"To desecrate the very ground on which..." - This adds a sense of dramatic weight to the act of desecration. (e.g., "Their betrayal desecrated the very ground on which our friendship was built.")
Idioms with synonyms:
"To trample on someone's grave" - This idiom conveys a similar sense of disrespecting something sacred, in this case, the memory of the deceased.
"To drag someone's name through the mud" - This idiom captures the act of defiling someone's reputation.
"To spit on someone's legacy" - This conveys a strong sense of contempt and disregard for someone's achievements or values.
"To add insult to injury" - While not a direct synonym, this idiom describes making a bad situation worse, which can sometimes involve a form of desecration. (e.g., "Not only did they lose the game, but the opposing team added insult to injury by desecrating their mascot.")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of desecrate from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
