[Vocabulary] malapropism

[Cynthia Garett]

Hi,

I came across this sentence in a vocab book. It says here that it contains a malapropism, a word that might sound similar to something that's not. Obviously that word is "defecating". My question is: what word could it replace? Something that sounds pretty much the same and that I guess means "to soil, stain"... I just can't figure out what it is. I could definitely use some help. Thanks.

"The graffiti artist was indicated for defecating the church with gang signs."

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

Indicted for defacing, not 'indicated for defecating'.

 

[Jill Dorchester]

Or they might have meant "desecrating" instead of "defecating."

 

[BobK]

Or a mixture of the two. The speaker's mind started 'def-' (correct so far) and then thought 'but I need four syllables with a stressed /eɪ/ diphthong'. ;-)

b

 

[Jill Dorchester]

Or a mixture of the two. The speaker's mind started 'def-' (correct so far) and then thought 'but I need four syllables with a stressed /eɪ/ diphthong'. ;-)

b

Are you from Philadelphia? Do you dip your diphthongs? :lol:

 

[Tarheel]

Or a mixture of the two. The speaker's mind started 'def-' (correct so far) and then thought 'but I need four syllables with a stressed /eɪ/ diphthong'. ;-)

b

Well, the first malapropism was indicate, then he/she decided to go all in.

;-)