Meaning & use
desecrated body
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Meaning
nouncountableformal
A dead body that has been treated with disrespect, especially by damaging or violating something considered sacred.
Grammar: Countable noun phrase; can be used with 'a' or in the plural 'desecrated bodies'.
Patterns
- a desecrated body
- desecrated bodies
- the desecration of a body
The soldiers were accused of leaving a desecrated body in the village.
The discovery of a desecrated body at the cemetery shocked the community.
Reports described desecrated bodies found in the mass grave.
Word forms
| plural | desecrated bodies |
|---|
Common combinations
- a desecrated body was found
- A desecrated body was found near the old church.
- desecrated body of a soldier
- They mourned the desecrated body of a soldier.
- the desecration of a body
- The desecration of a body is considered a serious crime.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mutilated body
- Focuses on physical damage rather than disrespect to something sacred.
- violated corpse
- More clinical and legal; 'corpse' is a formal word for a dead body.
Word family
- desecrate verb
- To treat something sacred with violent disrespect.
- desecration noun
- The act of desecrating something.
Commonly confused: desecrated body or desecrated?
desecrated body vs desecrated
This is the adjective form; 'desecrated body' uses it to describe the body.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'desecrated body' appropriately?
Choose one answer.
B is correct because 'desecrated body' refers to a corpse that has been disrespected, often in a grave context. An is contradictory because 'full honors' suggests respect. C is wrong because 'desecrated body' is a noun phrase, not an adjective for feelings. D is wrong because 'body' here means a dead person, not a text.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “desecrated body”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.