as in blasphemy
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things
the sect has no tolerance for any irreverence directed toward their spiritual leader
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irreverence
Those brave enough to confront the world’s irreverence with a stubborn, civil audacity.
—
F. Willis Johnson, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
A lot of welcome Hotel Art Thief motifs recur here — an amazing old guy, a fake podcast recording session, POV gun violence (thanks to a cop body cam), and a plotline pulling all the irreverence together — subtly seeded throughout the series and ultimately leading to violence.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 26 June 2025
That was a key part of the marketing campaign: the irreverence of Stitch disrupting myriad cultural moments ala the Super Bowl.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 June 2025
The fragrance’s starting point was the consumer — especially Gen Zers, who are partial to a deep form of insouciance, with a liberating irreverence, market insights show.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
F. Willis Johnson, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
A lot of welcome Hotel Art Thief motifs recur here — an amazing old guy, a fake podcast recording session, POV gun violence (thanks to a cop body cam), and a plotline pulling all the irreverence together — subtly seeded throughout the series and ultimately leading to violence.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 26 June 2025
That was a key part of the marketing campaign: the irreverence of Stitch disrupting myriad cultural moments ala the Super Bowl.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 June 2025
The fragrance’s starting point was the consumer — especially Gen Zers, who are partial to a deep form of insouciance, with a liberating irreverence, market insights show.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreverence
Noun
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Many societies in the past have linked swearing to blasphemy or sin.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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The organization has also taken on international cases involving silent prayer arrests in the U.K. and blasphemy charges in Nigeria.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
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For years, Apple treated the idea of windows on the iPad as sacrilege.—
Craig Grannell,
Wired News,
16 Aug. 2025
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And still, Wankdorf Stadium heaved with Portuguese song, as if any other noise outside of a goal celebration might border on sacrilege.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 July 2025
Noun
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The bills, named for the global pop star — and the frantic rush to get tickets for her shows around the country — strengthen penalties for using bots to buy tickets in bulk and give the state attorney general the ability to investigate potential violations of the law.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Expending taxpayer funds on a capital project without secured or approved funding is both fiscally irresponsible and a violation of sound budgeting practices.—
Penny Weaver,
Arkansas Online,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Stringer/Sputnik via AP What To Know Broadly desecration of a flag refers to any action that damages or disrespects it—such as burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it, stepping on it, damaging it with stones or bullets, cutting or ripping it and many others.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
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The decision upheld a Texas Court of Appeals ruling that reversed Gregory Lee Johnson’s conviction under a Texas law banning flag desecration.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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By one hand, he is bound to himself, to his impiety, his recklessness, his envy and pride, his guilt and spite.—
Merve Emre,
The New Yorker,
16 Dec. 2024
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Clouzot supplied that insight in strong visual terms: Fresnay’s conflicting impiety and righteous anger and so much dissatisfaction and panic among the townsfolk.—
Armond White,
National Review,
20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Temirov was unlawfully deported to Moscow in 2022 in retaliation for his investigative reporting on high-level corruption in the Kyrgyz government, according to Sorensen.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Many Iranians wonder why their government spends so much money and effort on picking fights with Israel, the United States, and their allies, rather than on fixing its own corruption.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Perhaps, like Elizabeth in the face of Darcy’s insult, Austen would also be prompted to spread spirited gossip about her heroine’s doubters and haters.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
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When big gatherings of police and federal agents suddenly show up in residential areas, crowds often meet them with cell phone cameras, righteous indignation and insults.—
Daniel C. Vock,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Scottish hen parties were deemed to contain ritualistic profanation.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
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No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move; ’Twere profanation of our joys To tell the laity our love.—
John Edgar Wideman,
The New Yorker,
8 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Irreverence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreverence. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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