sacrilege

noun

ˈsa-krə-lij How to pronounce sacrilege (audio)
Definition of sacrilegenext
as in blasphemy
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things spitting on the temple floor would be a great sacrilege

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 sacrilege At many Jewish institutions, rejecting Zionism is indeed regarded as a form of sacrilege. — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026 That’s the ultimate Hollywood sacrilege. — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026 Doing anything else would be sacrilege to the faithful, as well as false to the friendship that exists at the center of this Broadway behemoth. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025 In 1998, the Lucky Chances casino opened, surrounded by graveyards on three side, which critics saw as a sacrilege. — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sacrilege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sacrilege
  1. blasphemy
  2. desecration
  3. violation
  4. cursing
  5. profanation
  6. impiety
  7. corruption
Noun
  • This was a weak case for blasphemy.
    — Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
  • The president later removed the post in the face of outrage and accusations of blasphemy.
    — Laura Kelly, The Hill, 4 May 2026
Definition of blasphemy
Noun
  • He was convicted of offenses including desecration of national symbols, contempt and public ​disorder, and spent five years in the Guanajay prison near Havana.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 19 July 2026
  • With the ruin of Troy also came the desecration of Zeus’ law, which proved dangerous to the returning Ithacans.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
Definition of desecration
Noun
  • The state ethics commission accused the Georgia Republican Assembly and its political action committee of failing to disclose more than $180,000 of contributions and other violations.
    — David Wickert, AJC.com, 22 July 2026
  • The citations were issued for violations that included speeding, not adhering to traffic signs and signals, unsafe turning movements, use of cellphones and driving without a license.
    — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • In about seven minutes, with pushing, shoving, and cursing, the agents cleared a path for the van.
    — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • People would literally be in the drive-thru cursing at me.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Definition of cursing
Noun
  • Scottish hen parties were deemed to contain ritualistic profanation.
    — Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
  • 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
Definition of profanation
Noun
  • 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
Definition of impiety
Noun
  • Dozens of police officers, many of them recent recruits, were eventually disciplined for actions related to police corruption, and many were convicted of crimes related to stealing drugs from traffickers.
    — Meg Anderson, NPR, 23 July 2026
  • Zelenskyy recently weathered a politically damaging corruption investigation involving several of his closest associates, including his former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who was dismissed amid mounting public pressure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Definition of corruption

Browse Nearby Words

sacrificing
sacrilege
sacrileges
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Cite this Entry

“Sacrilege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sacrilege. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sacrilege

Nglish: Translation of sacrilege for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sacrilege

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