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 scrappy downtown energy is still very much intact — with Mindelle and cast retelling this iconic story with innovation and irreverence.
—
Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Gawker was rooted as much in irreverence and humor as news.
—Frank Digiacomo, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
The dining rooms lean hard into an ’80s-meets-diner aesthetic with neon accents, colorful murals, throwback playlists and a playful irreverence that matches its menu.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
This interest in but irreverence about boundaries—those between artistic disciplines, social strata, national borders—is characteristic of Gates’s work.
—Asad Syrkett, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Gawker was rooted as much in irreverence and humor as news.
—Frank Digiacomo, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
The dining rooms lean hard into an ’80s-meets-diner aesthetic with neon accents, colorful murals, throwback playlists and a playful irreverence that matches its menu.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
This interest in but irreverence about boundaries—those between artistic disciplines, social strata, national borders—is characteristic of Gates’s work.
—Asad Syrkett, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreverence
Noun
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This was a weak case for blasphemy.—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
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The president later removed the post in the face of outrage and accusations of blasphemy.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
4 May 2026
Noun
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But by then, religious and political leaders from around the world condemned the image, some calling it a sacrilege.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
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That might sound like sacrilege, because the NFL is beyond criticism for many sports fans, but the draft is the ideal example of what the league has become and the importance of gambling to modern audiences.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Here are the inspection scores and violations for restaurants within the city limits of Plano for May 31st - June 6th, 2026.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the American attacks as a violation of Iranian sovereignty.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Gerlach is facing nearly 500 charges — including burglary, abuse of a corpse and desecration of monuments — tied to a disturbing investigation at Mount Moriah Cemetery near Philadelphia, the outlet reported.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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Against desecration of our flag bill 4.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Even aside from Trump’s own enthusiastic personal immorality and impiety, his political style — the pugnacious smear artist and demagogic braggart — was the antithesis of what evangelicals had sought before.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
23 Sep. 2025
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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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People would literally be in the drive-thru cursing at me.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
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According to Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles, his mother had to cut back on a certain bad habit after marrying King Charles—cursing.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Plots often involved ecological disaster, war, corruption, corporate exploitation and extraction.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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Allegations of corruption, fraud, insider trading, cronyism, loss of competent intelligence and reckless actions including a new war.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Adding insult to injury, those temporary wheels are often uninspiring (and sometimes unfamiliar)—brands such as Skoda, Citroen, Peugeot, and Vauxhall.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
10 June 2026
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To add nationalistic insult to injury, the head of Wardex isn’t even American.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irreverence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreverence. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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