desecration
Other forms: desecrations
Desecration is a type of behavior that disrespects the sacredness or holiness of something. Words and actions that are offensive to a religion could be considered acts of desecration.
Swearing in church is a type of desecration. Destroying a tombstone is a type of desecration. Depending on the religion, taking God's name in vain could be considered desecration. This word means something close to blasphemy or sacrilege. Sometimes, desecration is used in non-religious contexts, when an idea people care about is treated disrespectfully.
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blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character
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Vocabulary lists containing desecration
In the Nobel Prize-winner's first novel, a young black girl yearns to conform to society's rigid standards of beauty.
During the 1984 Republican National Convention, Gregory Lee Johnson protested political and corporate policies by burning an American flag outside Dallas City Hall. He was convicted under a Texas law that prohibits the desecration of respected objects. The Supreme Court ruled that a deliberately expressive nonverbal act can be defined as speech; therefore, if it does not disturb the peace, it is protected by the First Amendment. These words are from the majority opinion written by William Brennan. The the full text here.
Social Studies teachers: Use this list of 25 vocabulary words drawn from five New York Times articles to follow news and analysis following the Nov. 13, 2015 Paris Attacks.