desecration

The word desecrate — to violate something sacred — was in the news as a result of an unsubstantiated Newsweek report in May 2005 that interrogators at the US naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, tried to make terror suspects talk by desecrating the holy book of Islam, the Koran. The report sparked deadly violence in Afghanistan.

Link: Newsweek Retracts Story on Quran Abuse

Posted May 17, 2005.

See our Word Overheard blog to see interesting uses of strange words.

noun

An act of disrespect or impiety toward something regarded as sacred: blasphemy, profanation, sacrilege, violation. See sacred/profane.

Tutor's tip: This word was used in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character
  Synonyms: profanation, blasphemy, sacrilege