as in sacrilege
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things in the 17th century the Quakers were persecuted for beliefs and practices that older churches regarded as blasphemies

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of blasphemy Many religious people who are not fluent in Italian who laughed at the meme or even repeated the words felt that they were tricked into blasphemy. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 29 May 2025 In a mix of fascination, irreverence, fandom and possible blasphemy, video compilations of cardinals with Charli XCX soundtracks have popped up online. Emma Bubola, New York Times, 7 May 2025 Five Christian groups filed complaints to Indonesian police alleging blasphemy, leading to Thalisa’s arrest on October 8. Jack Guy, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025 That alone—ranking her merely second best—may have already constituted blasphemy for some of Swift’s fans. Chad De Guzman, TIME, 28 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for blasphemy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blasphemy
Noun
  • For years, Apple treated the idea of windows on the iPad as sacrilege.
    Craig Grannell, Wired News, 16 Aug. 2025
  • And still, Wankdorf Stadium heaved with Portuguese song, as if any other noise outside of a goal celebration might border on sacrilege.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • Past cases involving flag burning Flag desecration and burning have long been a point of discussion among U.S. lawmakers.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 21 June 2025
  • Encampments, flag desecration, face coverings, and masks intended to conceal identity are prohibited.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • Those who break the rules of grammar are often heroes, especially when their violations are in the service of supplying, say, great dialogue (Mark Twain, Ralph Ellison, Don DeLillo).
    J.T. Barbarese, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Three Fort Worth restaurants were temporarily closed for serious health violations, including multiple roaches in the eateries, according to recent inspection reports.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • By one hand, he is bound to himself, to his impiety, his recklessness, his envy and pride, his guilt and spite.
    Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
  • By one hand, he is bound to himself, to his impiety, his recklessness, his envy and pride, his guilt and spite.
    Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • In 1870, lawyers founded the City Bar to confront corruption in the courts under Tammany Hall.
    Muhammad U. Faridi, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The billion-dollar plan hoped to stamp out corruption and combat drug cartels.
    Miriam Waldvogel, The Hill, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Scottish hen parties were deemed to contain ritualistic profanation.
    Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
  • No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move; ’Twere profanation of our joys To tell the laity our love.
    John Edgar Wideman, The New Yorker, 8 July 2021
Noun
  • Chaz was blending fragrance with her own sense of irreverence: inspired by cologne, her love of masculine notes, and a desire to make scent feel more personal and less precious.
    Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
  • As an undergraduate in the 1960s, I was drawn to the experimental irreverence of writers of the Beat generation.
    Literary Hub July 28, Literary Hub, 28 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blasphemy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blasphemy. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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