irreligious

adjective ir·re·li·gious \ ˌir-i-ˈli-jəs \

Definition of irreligious

1 :neglectful of religion :lacking religious emotions, doctrines, or practices

so irreligious that they exploit popular religion for professional purposes
—G. B. Shaw

2 :indicating lack of religion

—

irreligiously

adverb

See irreligious defined for English-language learners

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Examples of irreligious in a Sentence

raised in an irreligious family where the subject of God was never even discussed

Recent Examples of irreligious from the Web

Modern liberalism draws much of its strength from younger Americans — Millennials who are more irreligious than their forebears.

— jeff cimmino, National Review, "Sanders, Ossoff, and the Hopeless Dream of a Religious Left," 13 July 2017
Though a profane and irreligious man, Trump sees the Middle East and broader foreign policy through a religious prism (a sign, perhaps, of Bannon’s influence).

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Trump’s Muslim Tolerance Extends Only to Autocrats," 22 May 2017
The numbers remained virtually unchanged and declared a clear preference for the faithful over the irreligious.

— scott canon, kansascity.com, "26 percent of Americans are atheist? Researchers say the godless are undercounted," 1 May 2017
But the play also explores the complicated bonds between friends, between old lovers, between the pious and the irreligious, and between father and son.

— The New Yorker, "Yours Unfaithfully," 31 Mar. 2017
The Haitian slave revolt at the turn of the 19th century was instigated by and for Christianized Africans, although whites depicted those seeking their freedom as irreligious savages.

— andrew lawler, Smithsonian, "Muslims Were Banned From the Americas as Early as the 16th Century," 7 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'irreligious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of irreligious

15th century

irreligious Synonyms

Synonyms

godless, nonreligious, religionless

Antonyms

religious

Related Words

churchless, unchurched; heathen, pagan, paganish, ungodly, unholy; blasphemous, impious, irreverent, profanatory, sacrilegious; agnostic, atheistic (or atheistical); unconsecrated, unhallowed; profane, secular, temporal, worldly

Near Antonyms

devout, God-fearing, godly, holy, pious, prayerful, reverent, sainted, saintly, worshipful, worshipping (also worshiping); sanctimonious; blessed (also blest), consecrated, hallowed, sacred, sacrosanct, sanctified; devotional, spiritual

IRRELIGIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

irreligious

adjective

Definition of irreligious for English Language Learners

: not believing in or practicing any religion
: having or showing a lack of respect for religion

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for irreligious Spanish Central: Translation of irreligious Nglish: Translation of irreligious for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of irreligious for Arabic speakers

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irreligious

Definition of irreligious

irreligiously

Examples of irreligious in a Sentence

Recent Examples of irreligious from the Web

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irreligious Synonyms

Synonyms

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IRRELIGIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

irreligious

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irreligious

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irreligiously

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IRRELIGIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

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