IRREVERENCE Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

irreverence

noun

i-ˈre-v(ə-)rən(t)s

Definition of irreverence

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

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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 irreverence Noah Goldstein, Sir Dylan, and Jake Miller, who produced the song with Rosalía, were surgical in structuring this masterpiece together, juxtaposing the song’s irreverence with its intense spirituality. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026 While the lobby is trés analogue, the rooms embrace modernity, and each features a lounge area that combines midcentury-modern furniture with art that evokes grunge-era irreverence. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 But also to the success speaking to a desire for authenticity and irreverence. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026 But who doesn’t want to celebrate the legendary singer’s lifelong philanthropy, literacy efforts and sheer irreverence? — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irreverence

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreverence

Noun

Shock and anger greeted the Pakistani Supreme Court's decision to uphold the conviction and death sentence of a Christian man accused of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad.

— Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Or a plot to divert attention from Murphy’s blasphemy of her famously lucky number 13?

— Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of blasphemy

Noun

Advertisement To the Eagle Family, these scenes were sacrilege.

— Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
While this might seem like capitalist sacrilege, Gearin says there’s historical precedent for Indigenous peoples using plant medicine as a tool to navigate the practical demands of the world.

— Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of sacrilege

Noun

That was true in its yeshiva reform efforts when hesitant and understaffed local districts were charged with investigations and, even when violations were substantiated, the schools couldn’t be closed down.

— David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
But that still amounts to 79 inquiries now being double-checked for a possible violation of policy.

— Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of violation

Noun

That belief is not Christianity, but a desecration of that religious tradition as severe as taking a sword to desecrate an altar.

— Seth Limmer, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
The ghoul had become an emblem of desecration, a predator violating the boundary between life and death, a corruptor of what was wholesome and decent.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of desecration

Noun

Seeman was caught on camera cursing at McBride during the Cardinals’ loss at the New York Giants.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Paxton had argued that the law-school clinic was not a classroom but a workplace, and that Fisher was punished not for expressing political views but because her cursing and volume had disrupted clinic business.

— Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of cursing

Noun

Room for Disagreement Kenyan critics of the AFCON infrastructure developments have argued that the projects have been an avenue for corruption and risk escalating Kenya’s $98 billion debt burden.

— Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
The students also demanded changes in the judiciary and urgent investigations in top-level corruption cases that might have been sidelined due to political pressure under Vucic.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of corruption

Noun

Despite his notoriously fiery TV persona, the Gordon Ramsay meal kit doesn’t include any pre-packaged insults or threats to shut your kitchen down — just easy-to-follow recipe cards.

— Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Gillies was surprised to learn in researching the docu that the programmers came up with a rating system for calculating the relative weight of insults.

— Will Tizard, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of insult

Browse Nearby Words

irretrievable

irreverence

irreverences

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“Irreverence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreverence. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of irreverence

noun

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