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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The museum touts its irreverence, for example placing a portrait of George Washington by untrained artist Howard Finster with one by Gilbert Stuart. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 8 June 2026 Pratt’s main character energy proved attractive to (primarily out-of-state) donors as well as meme makers, who gravitated to his blend of righteousness and rage as well as irreverence. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2026 How to analyze a poetics of irreverence and improvisation—of life experienced in a perpetual present—without stifling precisely these qualities? — Joe Dunthorne, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026 Philly Mag ran a definitive long-read that leaned into the show's Philadelphia roots and comedic irreverence. — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for irreverence

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreverence

Noun

This was a weak case for blasphemy.

— Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
The president later removed the post in the face of outrage and accusations of blasphemy.

— Laura Kelly, The Hill, 4 May 2026

Definition of blasphemy

Noun

That’s sacrilege on par with an Ohioan disowning football or a Texan recoiling at the smell of brisket, a Kentuckian thumbing his nose at college basketball.

— Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 2 July 2026
Sure, Texans are very hospitable, but playing anything other than country music over the speakers is normally considered sacrilege in that establishment.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

Definition of sacrilege

Noun

The state ethics commission accused the Georgia Republican Assembly and its political action committee of failing to disclose more than $180,000 of contributions and other violations.

— David Wickert, AJC.com, 22 July 2026
The citations were issued for violations that included speeding, not adhering to traffic signs and signals, unsafe turning movements, use of cellphones and driving without a license.

— Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026

Definition of violation

Noun

He was convicted of offenses including desecration of national symbols, contempt and public disorder, and spent five years in the Guanajay prison near Havana.

— Reuters, NBC news, 19 July 2026
With the ruin of Troy also came the desecration of Zeus’ law, which proved dangerous to the returning Ithacans.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026

Definition of desecration

Noun

They are accused of encouraging dissent against the regime and were convicted of broad charges of corruption, CNN’s Isobel Yeung reports.

— Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Each saw human nature as susceptible to corruption by base impulses and self-interest.

— Donovan Fifield, The Conversation, 16 July 2026

Definition of corruption

Noun

The list of insults faced by those of us trying to live here is pretty lengthy already.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 21 July 2026
Supporters embraced the insult as a badge of resistance, turning it into a satirical political campaign that amassed more than 21 million Instagram followers in a few days.

— Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of insult

Browse Nearby Words

irretrievable

irreverence

irreverences

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Irreverence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreverence. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of irreverence

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on irreverence

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

stalwart

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes