profaned; profaning
1
: to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt : desecrate
2
: to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use
profaner
noun
1
: not concerned with religion or religious purposes : secular
2
: not holy because unconsecrated, impure, or defiled : unsanctified
3
a
: serving to debase or defile what is holy : irreverent
4
a
: not being among the initiated
b
: not possessing esoteric or expert knowledge
profanely
adverb
Examples of profane in a Sentence
Verb
the once-lovely landscape had been profaned by ugly factories
profaned his considerable acting talents by appearing in some wretched movies
Adjective
it was hard to juggle the requirements of church and our more profane duties
offended by the profane language that her coworkers used so casually
Recent Examples on the Web
New York Times, 8 July 2024
If Bartolo was against type, then so is Messina's turn as ruthless sports agent David Falk, who profanes his way through protecting his star client, Michael Jordan, when Nike courts the rising basketball star with his own line of shoes, the Air Jordans.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2023
David Kushner, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
In borrowing from a patchwork of references, and steeping them in a brew both sacred and profane, D’Angelo was doing more than homage.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profane
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Verb
Beatty’s method is the exact opposite: In his hands, everything sacred is profaned, from the Supreme Court to the Little Rascals.
—New York Times, 8 July 2024
If Bartolo was against type, then so is Messina's turn as ruthless sports agent David Falk, who profanes his way through protecting his star client, Michael Jordan, when Nike courts the rising basketball star with his own line of shoes, the Air Jordans.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2023
Adjective
But for the family, the sacred place was becoming profane.
—David Kushner, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
In borrowing from a patchwork of references, and steeping them in a brew both sacred and profane, D’Angelo was doing more than homage.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profane
Cite this Entry
“Profane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profane. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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