irreverence

noun

ir·​rev·​er·​ence i-ˈre-v(ə-)rən(t)s 

ˌi(r)-,

-ˈre-vərn(t)s

1

: lack of reverence

2

: an irreverent act or utterance

Synonyms

• blasphemy
• defilement
• desecration
• impiety
• profanation
• sacrilege

Examples of irreverence in a Sentence

the sect has no tolerance for any irreverence directed toward their spiritual leader

Recent Examples on the Web

Katy Perry’s breakout moment, in the late two-thousands, had a type of frivolity and irreverence that feels difficult to summon now. —Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024

But the play’s humor and skewering of patriarchal assumptions seemed to director Chilcote a good match for commedia’s irrepressible clowns and irreverence toward social hierarchy. —Celia Wren, Washington Post, 17 July 2024

Suffice to say that the irreverence is really refreshing. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 12 July 2024

Addicted to drugs and swearing like a sailor, McCarthy’s character really gets into the film’s deadpan send-up of cop dramas, nicely embodying Happytime Murders’ air of snotty irreverence. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 4 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1