irreverent

adjective

ir·​rev·​er·​ent i-ˈre-v(ə-)rənt How to pronounce irreverent (audio)
ˌi(r)-,
-ˈre-vərnt
: lacking proper respect or seriousness
also : satiric
irreverently adverb

Examples of irreverent in a Sentence

He has a delightfully irreverent sense of humor. irreverent behavior during church services
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The whole this is very slapstick and irreverent, and the story is advanced almost exclusively by wacky deus ex machinas. James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025 Her voice in the essays is sly and irreverent, knowing and persuasive—all qualities that endeared her to readers, despite her often excessively Manichean tone. Anderson Tepper, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025 The pic is a raunchy, irreverent coming-of-age comedy directed by Richard Goldgewicht and written by Goldgewicht, Matt Hamilton, and Abe Frank. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025 Mentorship, Humor And Queer Resilience Reigns structures Outliving Michael as a series of vignettes, each poem distilling a memory that compounds to build a complete portrait of Church, a man of emotional depth and irreverent charm. R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for irreverent

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin irreverent-, irreverens, from in- + reverent-, reverens reverent

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Irreverent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irreverent. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

irreverent

adjective
ir·​rev·​er·​ent (ˈ)ir-ˈ(r)ev-(ə-)rənt How to pronounce irreverent (audio)
-ərnt
: showing lack of reverence
irreverent joking and giggling in church
irreverence
-ˈ(r)ev-(ə-)rən(t)s
-ˈ(r)ev-ərn(t)s
noun
irreverently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on irreverent

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