blasphemous

adjective

blas·​phe·​mous ˈblas-fə-məs How to pronounce blasphemous (audio)
: impiously irreverent : profane
a blasphemous writer
a blasphemous epithet
The claims were blasphemous.
blasphemously adverb
blasphemousness noun

Examples of blasphemous in a Sentence

Catholics used to believe that anyone but a priest touching a consecrated wafer was blasphemous.
Recent Examples on the Web It was deemed blasphemous before anything had even arrived. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2024 The film’s elaborate, blasphemous ending begins after protagonists Trevor (Jackson) and Craig (Sharp) — two aggressively straight, dueling corporate salesmen who, despite looking nothing alike, are identical twins separated at birth — reunite their estranged parents (Mullally and Lane). Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2023 Rushdie achieved worldwide prominence for his 1989 book, The Satanic Verses, which was considered blasphemous by Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 11 Oct. 2023 Is the denouement the most blasphemous in the history of movie musicals? Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2023 Outside Cathedral of Hope, protestors from far-right and anti-LGBTQ groups called the Sisters blasphemous and anti-Catholic. Joy Ashford, Dallas News, 17 Sep. 2023 The use of the flag on a skirt is considered blasphemous. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 18 Sep. 2023 In 2005, a Danish newspaper published several cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad that many Muslims considered blasphemous and that set off violent protests and attacks. Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2023 Yasir Talib, who works for the Centre for Social Justice and who was in the town at the time of the incident, said a crowd vandalized and set on fire the home of one Christian man accused of making blasphemous comments against Islam. Sophia Saifi, CNN, 16 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blasphemous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see blaspheme

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blasphemous was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near blasphemous

Cite this Entry

“Blasphemous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blasphemous. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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