blasphemous

adjective

ˈblas-fə-məs How to pronounce blasphemous (audio)
Definition of blasphemousnext
as in profane
not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred Catholics used to believe that anyone but a priest touching a consecrated wafer was blasphemous

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blasphemous Societies throughout history have punished language deemed blasphemous, seditious, inciting or slanderous. — Paul Quigley, The Conversation, 13 July 2026 Many of their performances are blasphemous, and their work only displays hate and mockery of Catholics and the Christian faith. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026 This way of approaching the story would help make its portrait of Jesus all the more human, and, to some, all the more blasphemous. — Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026 Borderline blasphemous, for an undrafted rookie. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for blasphemous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blasphemous
  1. atheistic
  2. secular
  3. sacrilegious
  4. impious
  5. irreverent
  6. pagan
  7. profane
Adjective
  • His father's death during World War II influenced his pursuit of the ministry even amid the officially atheistic communist regime of the Soviet Union, according to his obituary on the OCU website.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • But there has been a recent rise in secular congregations that explicitly mimic religious organizations and rituals to celebrate atheistic worldviews.
    — Jacqui Frost, The Conversation, 11 Jan. 2024
Definition of atheistic
Adjective
  • Treasuries were more than a decade into a massive secular bull market as the '90s bubble inflated.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Sunita Viswanath, executive director of Hindus for Human Rights, said her group is one of 61 interfaith and secular organizations that signed an open letter protesting Saturday’s event.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of secular
Adjective
  • He may have been born in Cordoba, northern Argentina, but after five years at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the notion of Romero being allowed to head the four miles south to the Emirates feels extremely problematic at best, sacrilegious at worst.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Because xenia rested on mutual trust, violating it was considered not just rude but sacrilegious.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 19 July 2026
Definition of sacrilegious
Adjective
  • Many other traditionalists have made a version of Scruton’s critique, insisting that contemporary art reflects self-indulgent, relativistic, and impious tendencies.
    — Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
  • While no formal announcement has been made to update its longstanding alcohol ban, Andrew Leber of Tulane University said this is in line with the Kingdom’s past approach to such potentially impious reforms.
    — Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Definition of impious
Adjective
  • In keeping with the irreverent spirit of the Ig Nobel Prizes, the physical awards themselves are anything but conventional.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • That sensibility could be playful, irreverent and suspicious of authority.
    — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of irreverent
Adjective
  • There’s more than a tinge of folk horror to this lingering mystery, which brings to mind the 1973 genre landmark The Wicker Man, in which a puritanical police officer travels to a remote island community that’s reverted to old pagan ways.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 15 June 2026
  • Glenn Turner, the former owner of a pagan and metaphysical shop, is running as a member of the Green Party.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Definition of pagan
Adjective
  • Enes Kanter Freedom exposes Natasha Cloud's profane tirade after WNBA ejection.
    — , FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Tarrant County decorum policy prohibits personal attacks, impertinent, profane, obscene, or slanderous remarks as well as threatening, disruptive or unruly behavior.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of profane

Browse Nearby Words

blaspheming
blasphemous
blasphemousness
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Cite this Entry

“Blasphemous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blasphemous. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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