Antonyms for defiler


Grammar : Noun
Spell : dih-fahyl
Phonetic Transcription : dɪˈfaɪl


Definition of defiler

Origin :
  • c.1400, "to desecrate, profane;" mid-15c., "to make foul or dirty," alteration of earlier defoulen, from Old French defouler "trample down, violate," also "ill-treat, dishonor," from de- "down" (see de-) + foler "to tread," from Latin fullo "person who cleans and thickens cloth by stamping on it" (see foil (v.)).
  • The alteration (or re-formation) in English is from influence of Middle English filen (v.) "to render foul; make unclean or impure," literal and figurative, from Old English fylen (trans.), related to Old English fulian (intrans.) "to become foul, rot," from the source of foul (adj.). Cf. befoul, which also had a parallel form befilen. Related: Defiled; defiling.
  • As in rapist : noun attacker
  • As in enemy : noun someone hated or competed against
Example sentences :
  • And Mr. Gosse saw him as the defiler of the purity of the English language.
  • Extract from : « The Life of Francis Thompson » by Everard Meynell
  • He returned unexpectedly soon, however; found his home occupied, and stabbed the defiler of it.
  • Extract from : « Retrospect of Western Travel, Volume I (of 2) » by Harriet Martineau
  • I don't mind smoke,' she said mendaciously, trying to appease the defiler of the air with a little smile.
  • Extract from : « The Convert » by Elizabeth Robins
  • The impulse to crush the defiler was checked by the sudden appearance of two men inside the curtains.
  • Extract from : « Graustark » by George Barr McCutcheon
  • They hate the army of Aerschot and Lorraine as a mother hates the defiler of her child.
  • Extract from : « Golden Lads » by Arthur Gleason and Helen Hayes Gleason
  • Schwartz's kick at the Master had thrown the adoring dog into a maniac rage against this defiler of his idol.
  • Extract from : « Lad: A Dog » by Albert Payson Terhune

Synonyms for defiler

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019