as in ravines
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
the cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in pollutes
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violates
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiles
George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
Verb
Moral and intellectual descent is inherent in a political project that sets out to undermine liberal democracy, reject the inclusive egalitarianism of modern America, find enemies to demonize, and heroize a leader who defiles common decency.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiles
Noun
-
The reserve features high, broken cliffs and deep ravines on headlands overlooking the ocean.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
She was found hours later, barely alive and with a fractured skull, having been brutally raped and left for dead in one of the park’s ravines.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The debris ultimately enters storm drains and the adjacent river, which pollutes our shoreline and environment.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Fertilizer runoff pollutes water sources and fuels toxic algae blooms.—
Frank Morris,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The second problem with a moratorium on calling your opponents authoritarian is that Trump himself routinely violates it.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Critics and rights groups have said the DHS campaign violates due process and free speech.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Few journeys bring you as close to this breathtaking landscape as the Rocky Mountaineer, a train that threads through canyons, forests, and mountain passes.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Known as Hawaiʻi’s Garden Island, Kauaʻi embraces a multitude of landscapes, from the deeply creased and forested canyons of the North Shore to the sunny beaches and tropical botanical treasures of the south.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Dimitsana and Arcadian mountain trails The heartland of the Peloponnese is Arcadia, a mountainous province of gorges and hills, many precariously topped by medieval towns.—
Helen Brown,
TheWeek,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The island’s eastern region of Lasithi is home to dramatic gorges, small mountain villages, Europe’s largest natural palm forest—and fewer crowds.—
Yulia Denisyuk,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The most popular, First Passage to the West, runs between Vancouver and Banff, following historic rail lines through river valleys and mountain passes, with an overnight stop in Kamloops.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Temperatures throughout the weekend were expected to remain in the 60s along the coast and in the valleys.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiles. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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