desecrate vs assault

desecrate is not a noun while assault is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
desecrate	No	No	Yes	No
assault	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, assault is a hypernym of desecrate; that is, assault is a word with a broader meaning than desecrate:

Other hypernyms of desecrate include assail, attack, set on.

desecrate (noun)	assault (noun)
	close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
	a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
	the crime of forcing a person to submit to sexual intercourse against his or her will

desecrate (verb)	assault (verb)
remove the consecration from a person or an object	attack in speech or writing
violate the sacred character of a place or language	attack someone physically or emotionally
	force (someone) to have sex against their will