desecrate

Definitions

de- (reverse, undo) + secr (sacr, 'sacred') + -ate (verb) = 'to undo the sacredness of.' The word was coined as the direct opposite of consecrate: where consecrate makes holy, desecrate strips that holiness away — by vandalism, defilement, or contempt.

Why It Means This

Desecrate was deliberately built on the model of consecrate but with de- reversing it — a rare case where you can see the antonym constructed in the word's bones. It is stronger than 'disrespect': it implies an active violation of something held holy, like overturning gravestones or defiling a temple.

Common Collocations

• 1.desecrate a grave亵渎坟墓
• 2.desecrate a temple玷污神庙
• 3.desecrate sacred ground亵渎圣地
• 4.desecrate a flag侮辱国旗

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Vandals desecrated the cemetery by smashing the headstones.

• 2.

  Many felt the developers had desecrated a holy site.

Easily Confused

desecrate vs deface vs defile — Deface is about damaging a surface (deface a wall with graffiti). Defile means to make dirty or impure, literal or moral (defile pure water). Desecrate specifically violates something sacred — it only fits things people hold holy.