Crossword Genius

Desecrated by drop-out going round temple (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

profaned

'desecrated' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'drop-out going round temple' is the wordplay.
'out' indicates an anagram (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'going round' means one lot of letters goes inside another (some letters go around others).
'temple' becomes 'fane' (I've seen this in another clue).
'drop' is an anagram of 'prod'.
'prod' placed around 'fane' is 'PROFANED'.

'by' acts as a link.

(Another definition for profaned that I've seen is " was irreverent".)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.
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