If someone desecrates something which is considered to be holy or very special, they deliberately damage or insult it. She shouldn't have desecrated the picture of a religious leader + desecration des·ecra·tion The whole area has been shocked by the desecration of the cemetery. to spoil or damage something holy or respected (de- + consecrate)
To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to put to an unworthy use; the opposite of consecrate
remove the consecration from a person or an object violate the sacred character of a place or language; "desecrate a cemetary"; "violate the sanctity of the church"; "profane the name of God