de
sec
rate
Third Person
desecrates
Present Participle
desecrating
Past Tense
desecrated
Past Participle
desecrated
1
to insult or damage something that people greatly respect or consider holy, particularly a place
- Vandals desecrated the church by spray-painting graffiti on its walls.
- The act of burning the national flag is often seen as a way to desecrate a symbol of a country's pride.
- The ancient temple was desecrated when treasure hunters looted its sacred artifacts.
- The protesters were desecrating the statue while chanting slogans.
- The cemetery had been desecrated before the local authorities could respond.
2
to treat something valuable inconsiderately, in a way that affects it badly
- Many lanes are desecrated with yellow lines.
- Ruinous new road schemes that desecrate the countryside.
- The construction of an unsightly building desecrated the natural beauty of the landscape.