IRRELIGIOUS Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

irreligious

adjective

ˌir-i-ˈli-jəs

Definition of irreligious

as in atheistic

lacking religious emotions, principles, or practices raised in an irreligious family where the subject of God was never even discussed

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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 irreligious And even the irreligious Bill de Blasio would join parishioners at the cathedral. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026 Silverstein had a much different experience growing up, given the fact that his parents were both Baalei teshuva (irreligious Jews who become more observant later in life). — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025 Ephraim — ambitious, socialist and irreligious — takes his family to Riga, Latvia, to Palestine and finally to France. — Lauren Elkin, Washington Post, 16 May 2023 Conservative religiosity is of course not a requirement for autocracy – just look at the previous era of Russian autocracy, which was decidedly irreligious. — Jill Filipovic, CNN, 21 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for irreligious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreligious

Adjective

His father's death during World War II influenced his pursuit of the ministry even amid the officially atheistic communist regime of the Soviet Union, according to his obituary on the OCU website.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
But there has been a recent rise in secular congregations that explicitly mimic religious organizations and rituals to celebrate atheistic worldviews.

— Jacqui Frost, The Conversation, 11 Jan. 2024

Definition of atheistic

Adjective

Up to that point, America’s external enemy—the godless Soviets—gave the movement coherence and urgency.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
Sometimes this was committed to good, such as the Marshall Plan and the Peace Corps, and sometimes to ill, as in a series of military blunders meant to quash godless Communism.

— Jim Rasenberger, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026

Definition of godless

Adjective

Seeing those ancient sculptures would have a lasting impact on Cabrera, whose work contained forms that recall pagan ritual and prehistoric objects.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
The denials followed the Temple's Capitol holiday display in 2023, centered on a statue of the pagan idol Baphomet, alongside other religious displays allowed by the state.

— William Morris, Des Moines Register, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of pagan

Adjective

Because Saudi Arabia had not yet been opened to nonreligious tourists—that happened in 2019—many visitors to the country were pilgrims, who didn’t expect flashy meals.

— Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
According to the study, more than 97% of religious respondents and 80% of nonreligious respondents said they had been spiritually moved, inspired or comforted by online content.

— City News Service, Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of nonreligious

Browse Nearby Words

irrelevantly

irreligious

irremediable

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“Irreligious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreligious. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of irreligious

adjective

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