Defile (Verb)
Meaning 1
Place under suspicion or cast doubt upon; "sully someone's reputation".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Her rival's scandalous rumors began to defile her reputation as a talented artist.
- The company's sudden bankruptcy had begun to defile its previously stellar financial record.
- Unsubstantiated claims of misconduct threatened to defile the politician's long-serving career.
- The corruption scandal slowly started to defile what was once a revered and respected institution.
- Her former business partner's negative comments had managed to defile her professional standing in the industry.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically; "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The ancient monument was allowed to defile as a result of years of neglect and vandalism.
- Pollution from the nearby factory continued to defile the once pristine river.
- The beautiful painting was left to defile from dust and grime after being forgotten in the attic.
- Years of chain-smoking had started to defile his otherwise smooth complexion with deep wrinkles.
- Gossipmongers worked tirelessly to defile her good name through unfounded rumors and malicious lies.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 3
Spot, stain, or pollute; "The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The chemical plant's waste water discharge has been known to defile the nearby lake for years.
- The careless disregard for the environment led to the defile of the once-pristine waterfall.
- Industrial agriculture's use of pesticides often results in defiling the local water supply.
- The factories in the area have been defiling the air quality with toxic emissions for decades.
- A leak from the tanker began to defile the ocean water with thick, black oil.