IRREVERENT Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

irreverent

adjective

i-ˈre-v(ə-)rənt

Definition of irreverent

as in atheistic

not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred irreverent behavior during church services

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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 irreverent The irreverent premise gives way to a larger story about identity, acceptance and finding one’s place in the world. — Partner Content, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 Jack in the Box has some of the same ingredients — an irreverent brand voice, a broad menu and a willingness to experiment — but needs to turn them into a more coherent proposition. — Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Both Strong, who played the bad boy with a heart of gold Shawn Hunter, and Friedle, who played the irreverent Eric Matthews across the entire Boy Meets World season run, ended up appearing on Girl Meets World. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026 Blichfeld, who has been attending the event for 16 years, noticed the sea change when the city’s irreverent, highly individualized street style began circulating widely across social media. — Kelsey Stewart, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irreverent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreverent

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

Despite offers, the Pentecostals there have declined to sell it back into secular use.

— Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
While Insulet stock may face volatility from unrelated issues, the underlying secular demand for tubeless insulin delivery remains highly resilient against the GLP-1 wave.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of secular

Adjective

The image of him, his attire a blasphemous betrayal of the wholesome fun a clown costume promises, and with vibrant, colorful balloons in his hand, lingers in our minds for a long time.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
But when The Satanic Verses was published in 1988, the novel was declared by some as blasphemous, and then-Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa for Rushdie to be assassinated, leading the author to go into hiding until 1998.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of blasphemous

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

Seeing those ancient sculptures would have a lasting impact on Cabrera, whose work contained forms that recall pagan ritual and prehistoric objects.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
The denials followed the Temple's Capitol holiday display in 2023, centered on a statue of the pagan idol Baphomet, alongside other religious displays allowed by the state.

— William Morris, Des Moines Register, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of pagan

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irreverences

irreverent

irreversible

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“Irreverent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreverent. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of irreverent

adjective

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