profane

¹pro·fane

transitive verb \prō-ˈfān, prə-\

pro·fanedpro·fan·ing

Definition of PROFANE

1

: to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt : desecrate

2

: to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use

— pro·fan·er noun

Examples of PROFANE

1. <the once-lovely landscape had been profaned by ugly factories>
2. <profaned his considerable acting talents by appearing in some wretched movies>

Origin of PROFANE

Middle English prophanen, from Anglo-French prophaner, from Latin profanare, from profanus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PROFANE

Synonyms

abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, debase, prostitute, subvert, vitiate, warp

Antonyms

elevate, ennoble, uplift

Related Words

befoul, begrime, contaminate, defile, dilute, dirty, pollute, taint, thin, water down, weaken; descend; disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame, take down; blemish, damage, deface, destroy, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, mar, ruin, spoil, stain, tarnish, wreck; depreciate, downgrade

Near Antonyms

dignify, exalt, honor; ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect; clarify, clean, cleanse, purify, refine, restore; respect

²profane

adjective

Definition of PROFANE

1

: not concerned with religion or religious purposes : secular

2

: not holy because unconsecrated, impure, or defiled : unsanctified

3

a : serving to debase or defile what is holy : irreverent

b : obscene, vulgar

4

a : not being among the initiated

b : not possessing esoteric or expert knowledge

— pro·fane·ly adverb

— pro·fane·ness \-ˈfān-nəs\ noun

Examples of PROFANE

1. <it was hard to juggle the requirements of church and our more profane duties>
2. <offended by the profane language that her coworkers used so casually>

Origin of PROFANE

Middle English prophane, from Middle French, from Latin profanus, from pro- before + fanum temple — more at pro-, feast

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PROFANE

Synonyms

nonreligious, secular, temporal

Antonyms

religious, sacred

Related Words

atheistic, godless, irreligious, pagan, paganish, religionless; laical (or laic), lay, nonclerical; nondenominational, nonsectarian; earthly, mundane, terrene, terrestrial, worldly; material, physical, substantial; bodily, carnal, corporal, fleshly; blasphemous, impious, irreverent, sacrilegious; unconsecrated, unhallowed

Near Antonyms

divine, spiritual; consecrated, hallowed, holy, sacrosanct, sanctified; churchly, devout, godly, pious, prayerful, reverent, worshipful; ethereal, insubstantial, metaphysical, unsubstantial; bodiless, immaterial, incorporeal, nonphysical

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra