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

Relevance

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
  • Women had long been leaders and chief ideologues in secular movements – such as in the Weather Underground in the United States, Italy’s Red Brigades, Germany’s Red Army Faction and the Basque separatist group ETA.
    — Sara Harmouch, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The flagship gathering resembles a cross between a Mardi Gras parade, an agricultural expo and a secular revival.
    — Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of secular
Adjective
  • The tweak The Improper Pig made to a coveted Southern brunch dish might be considered sacrilegious in some kitchens, but the result is a delicious argument for bending tradition.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
  • As sacrilegious as this might sound to devout Bears fans, Johnson was equipped inside Halas Hall this offseason with Green Bay Packers highlights as a teach tape.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 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
  • PlumpJack is Sir John Falstaff, Shakespeare’s irreverent, larger-than-life character, and the inspiration for Gordon Getty’s opera.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2026
  • As fashion cycles through infinite stages of nostalgia—particularly the brashness of the ’80s and the sleek, techy sportiness of the ’90s—there’s something about airbrushing that feels less overt and slightly irreverent.
    — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of irreverent
Adjective
  • The expert was expected to say the positioning of the bodies, the branches on the remains, the outdoor location of the crime and knife wounds to the victims all were indications of pagan rituals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Defense attorneys planned to present a theory that the two girls were killed in a pagan ritual by Odinists.
    — Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of pagan
Adjective
  • People who post puerile, profane or belittling comments are protesters on a virtual street.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Created under O’Hare’s leadership, the 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, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of profane

Browse Nearby Words

blaspheming
blasphemous
blasphemousness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blasphemous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blasphemous. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All