US /dɪˈfaɪld/ UK /dɪˈfaɪld/
adj

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    made impure, dirty, or desecrated

    The defiled shrine was carefully cleansed and restored.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · made impure, dirty, or... desecratedpollutedcontaminatedtaintedsulliedcorruptedbesmirchedprofaned
Word family
Related forms defiledefilementdefilerfoul

Etymology

Past participle of defile ('to make impure'), from Middle English defoulen, from Old French defouler ('to trample down'), with later spelling influenced by file.

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