Defiled — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /di-ˈfī(-ə)l/ de·file

Meaning & Definition of Defiled

Defiled (verb)

  1. to make unclean or impure
  2. to corrupt the purity or perfection of, debase
  3. to violate the chastity or virginity of, deflower
  4. to march off in a line

Defiled (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in polluted, tainted

    similar: contaminated, germy, impure, polluted, tainted, bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, dirty, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grotty (chiefly British), grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smudged, smutty, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly, insanitary, uncleaned, unsanitary, unsterile, unsterilized, unwashed, greasy, gunky, chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled, disordered, jumbled, littered, messed, messy, muddled, mussed, mussy, rumpled, scruffy, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, untidy, raunchy, scuzzy (slang), shabby, skanky (slang), sleazy, squalid, collied (chiefly British dialect), crocked (dialect), fuliginous, sooty
    opposite: clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, stainless, ultraclean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied, clear, limpid, pure, cleaned, cleansed, combed, groomed, neat, ordered, orderly, tidy, bleached, purified, whitened, bright, flawless, perfect, shiny, sparkling, unspotted, untouched, taintless, unblemished, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, virgin, wholesome

Defiled (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable

    "supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots"

    similar: befouled, contaminated, fouled, poisoned, polluted, tainted
    related: infected, begrimed, besmirched, blackened, dirtied, fouled up, grimed, mired, muddied, smirched, smudged, soiled, stained, sullied, corrupted, rotted, spoiled, adulterated, doctored, diluted, watered down
    opposite: decontaminated, purified
    near: clarified, cleaned, cleansed, cleared, distilled, purged, filtered, disinfected, sanitized, sterilized

  2. to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect

    "art conservators were careful not to do anything that might defile the holy relic"

    similar: desecrated, profaned, violated
    related: deconsecrated, desacralized, desanctified, blasphemed, cursed, swore, befouled, contaminated, fouled, poisoned, polluted, soiled, sullied, tainted, affronted, defamed, insulted, offended, outraged, annihilated, crushed, decimated, demolished, desolated, destroyed, devastated, ravaged, razed, ruined, wasted, wrecked, despoiled, looted, pillaged, plundered, raided, ransacked, robbed, sacked, spoiled, stripped
    near: blessed, consecrated, dedicated, hallowed, sanctified, honored, respected, cleansed, purged, purified

Related Entry: Defile (verb)

Defile is a different word from Defiled. The synonyms below are for defile, not for defiled.

  1. to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable

    "supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots"

    similar: befoul, contaminate, foul, poison, pollute, taint
    related: infect, begrime, besmirch, blacken, dirty, foul up, grime, mire, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully, corrupt, rot, spoil, adulterate, doctor, dilute, water down
    opposite: decontaminate, purify
    near: clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, distill, purge, filter, disinfect, sanitize, sterilize

  2. to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect

    "art conservators were careful not to do anything that might defile the holy relic"

    similar: desecrate, profane, violate
    related: deconsecrate, desacralize, desanctify, blaspheme, curse, swear, befoul, contaminate, foul, poison, pollute, soil, sully, taint, affront, defame, insult, offend, outrage, annihilate, crush, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, ravage, raze, ruin, waste, wreck, despoil, loot, pillage, plunder, raid, ransack, rob, sack, spoil, strip
    near: bless, consecrate, dedicate, hallow, sanctify, honor, respect, cleanse, purge, purify

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Defiled

The most common words with a similar meaning to Defiled:

Slang: scuzzy, skanky
Chiefly British: grotty
Chiefly British dialect: collied
Dialect: crocked
contaminated, germy, impure, polluted, tainted, bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, dirty, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smudged, smutty, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly, insanitary, uncleaned, unsanitary, unsterile, unsterilized, unwashed, greasy

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Defiled

Words with the opposite meaning of Defiled:

clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, stainless, ultraclean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied, clear, limpid, pure, cleaned, cleansed, combed, groomed, neat, ordered, orderly, tidy, bleached, purified, whitened, bright, flawless, perfect, shiny, sparkling, unspotted

Related Words for Defiled

infected, dirtied, fouled up, grimed, mired, muddied, smirched, corrupted, rotted, spoiled, adulterated, doctored, diluted, watered down, deconsecrated, desacralized, desanctified, blasphemed, cursed, swore, affronted, defamed, insulted, offended, outraged, annihilated, crushed, decimated, demolished, desolated

Near Antonyms of Defiled

clarified, cleared, distilled, purged, filtered, disinfected, sanitized, sterilized, blessed, consecrated, dedicated, hallowed, sanctified, honored, respected

Word Forms of Defiled

Inflections: defiling

Derived words: defilement (noun), defiler (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Defiled

Middle English, alteration (influenced by filen to defile, from Old English fȳlan) of defoilen to trample, defile, from Anglo-French defoiller, defuler, to trample, from de- + fuller, foller to trample, literally, to full full

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Defiled

What does "Defiled" mean?

"Defiled" means to make unclean or impure. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to make unclean or impure. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Defiled"?

Other words for "Defiled" include contaminated, germy, impure, polluted, tainted, bedraggled, befouled and begrimed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Defiled" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Defiled"?

There are 123 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Defiled". Common alternatives include contaminated, germy, impure, polluted, tainted, bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired and besmirched.

What is the opposite of "Defiled"?

Antonyms of "Defiled" include clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, stainless, ultraclean and unsoiled. Near antonyms include clarified, cleared, distilled and purged.

How do you use "Defiled" in a sentence?

Examples of "Defiled" in a sentence: "supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots"; "art conservators were careful not to do anything that might defile the holy relic".

Is "Defiled" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Defiled" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Defiled"?

"Defiled" is pronounced /di-ˈfī(-ə)l/ and divided into syllables as de·file.

What is the origin of the word "Defiled"?

"Defiled" comes from Middle English, alteration (influenced by filen to defile, from Old English fȳlan) of defoilen to trample, defile, from Anglo-French defoiller, defuler, to trample, from de- + fuller, foller to trample, literally, to full full. First known use: 15th century.