Webster's English Dictionary

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profanation

pro.fa.na.tion \.pra:f-*-'na--sh*n, .pro--f*-\ n : the act of profaning  of 
   that which is sacred. PROFANATION implies irreverence or contempt as shown 
   by vulgar intrusion or vandalism; DESECRATION implies a loss of sacred 
   character as through defilement or reduction to secular use; SACRILEGE may 
   apply to technical violations not intrinsically outrageous such as improper 
   reception of sacraments or theft of sacred objects, but it may also imply 
   outrageous profanation SYN syn PROFANATION, DESECRATION, SACRILEGE mean 
   violation