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🇫🇷French Source WordCode: FR

souiller

Pronunciation / Transliteration: su-ye

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Defile/dɪˈfaɪl/
verbCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #8500 frequency
Full Thesaurus
🇫🇷 Example Sentence in French:

"Les vandales ont souillé le monument."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To spoil, damage, or desecrate something sacred, pure, or clean.

    "Vandals broke into the historic chapel and defiled the altar."
  2. 2

    To sully, taint, or lower the character or reputation of someone or something.

    "He refused to let the scandalous rumors defile his family's honor."
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Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from Middle English 'defoulen' (to trample down, corrupt), influenced by Old French 'defouler' and the prefix de- combined with Old English 'fūl' (foul). Over centuries, the meaning shifted from physically trampling or making dirty to the moral or sacred desecration of something pure.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

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Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Defile"

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