as in blasphemy
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things
the sect has no tolerance for any irreverence directed toward their spiritual leader
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irreverence
The film’s a strange but potent mix of irreverence and patriotism.
—
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
His sobering diagnosis, complete irreverence, and insatiable curiosity, send him on an unexpected journey learning how to die happily and ridiculously without losing his sense of humor.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
And that irreverence extends to the court, where Buzelis refuses to show any hesitation.
—Chicago Tribune, 23 Dec. 2024
There are great jokes (including an absolutely perfect Ralph line), thoughtful animation, a surprising amount of heart, and a heavy dose of irreverence.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
His sobering diagnosis, complete irreverence, and insatiable curiosity, send him on an unexpected journey learning how to die happily and ridiculously without losing his sense of humor.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
And that irreverence extends to the court, where Buzelis refuses to show any hesitation.
—Chicago Tribune, 23 Dec. 2024
There are great jokes (including an absolutely perfect Ralph line), thoughtful animation, a surprising amount of heart, and a heavy dose of irreverence.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreverence
Noun
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While Christians born into the faith are free to practice, Iran’s Shariah laws state that abandoning Islam for another religion is considered blasphemy, punishable by death.—
Farnaz Fassihi,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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So too do the French disagree on the limits of satire and blasphemy, despite their honored places in French culture.—
Colette Davidson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Such a transformation would represent an irrevocable loss: a profound sacrilege not only to the city’s rich history but also to the cultural legacy for the future generations.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
23 Feb. 2025
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For many liberals and radicals, beginning with Lord Byron, Elgin was a vandal who had committed sacrilege.—
Ralph Leonard,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The post was an apparent violation of Major League Baseball’s social media policy, which prohibits the use of electronic devices during games.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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In legal terms, the lawsuits are saying oil and gas companies violated consumer-protection laws and committed common-law civil violations such as negligence.—
Hannah Wiseman,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the 1989 case Texas v. Johnson, the Court ruled that flag desecration is protected under the First Amendment.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
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For some fans, the changes may feel like a desecration.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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The Trump administration is substantially scaling back the State Department's annual reports on international human rights to remove longstanding critiques of abuses such as harsh prison conditions, government corruption and restrictions on participation in the political process, NPR has learned.—
Graham Smith,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
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Thao has since been indicted for bribery and corruption.—
Jonathan Easley,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The order is so blatant in its attempt to rewrite history that to call it Orwellian would be something of an insult to Big Brother.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
29 Apr. 2025
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Years of insults and escalating tension came to a boiling point during the first press conference when Eubank Jr. slapped Benn in the face with an egg—an act that drew outrage and went viral.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Scottish hen parties were deemed to contain ritualistic profanation.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Irreverence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreverence. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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