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
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Recent Examples of irreverence
Shows with women protagonists and nuanced explorations of their personal and professional lives reflect her wit, irreverence, and commitment to social justice.
—
Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Corso’s energetic blend of irreverence and showmanship broke the mold among college football commentators.
—Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Miu Miu Beauty has announced Miutine, the new feminine fragrance capturing the ultimate essence of the brand’s signature irreverence with a dash of youthful and unconventional spirit, is set to launch on August 27.
—Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The fragrance’s starting point was the consumer — especially Gen Zers, who are partial to a deep form of insouciance, with a liberating irreverence, market insights show.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Corso’s energetic blend of irreverence and showmanship broke the mold among college football commentators.
—Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Miu Miu Beauty has announced Miutine, the new feminine fragrance capturing the ultimate essence of the brand’s signature irreverence with a dash of youthful and unconventional spirit, is set to launch on August 27.
—Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The fragrance’s starting point was the consumer — especially Gen Zers, who are partial to a deep form of insouciance, with a liberating irreverence, market insights show.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreverence
Noun
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More recently, Netflix’s film Mary, about the life of the mother of Jesus Christ, sparked debate among viewers when it was released in 2024, and the upcoming horror film The Carpenter’s Son about Jesus Christ was described as blasphemy online.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
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Pakistan has seen a significant spike in blasphemy cases in recent years, in line with the TLP's rise.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In 1998, the Lucky Chances casino opened, surrounded by graveyards on three side, which critics saw as a sacrilege.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
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For years, Apple treated the idea of windows on the iPad as sacrilege.—
Craig Grannell,
Wired News,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Among those scheduled to testify at the hearing for the government were an Oklahoma couple who were storing some of Goudreau's belongings, including two assault rifles an associate recently tried to retrieve in possible violation of a court order against possessing firearms while on bond.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Nov. 2025
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The denial letter said Farzam was convicted of making a false statement to the DMV and a registration violation.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Complete and utter desecration of a national monument.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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In fact, the party came within a single vote of getting a constitutional amendment prohibiting desecration of the flag through Congress two decades ago.—
Frederic J. Frommer,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Oct. 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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Clouzot supplied that insight in strong visual terms: Fresnay’s conflicting impiety and righteous anger and so much dissatisfaction and panic among the townsfolk.—
Armond White,
National Review,
20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The Eastpointe Police Department said the threats came in front of staff, students and parents, who witnessed the parent screaming and cursing, WWJ reported.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
27 Oct. 2025
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There are up to 20,000 rabid people raining down their emotions from all angles, a dozen sticks clattering, two dozen skates carving, all those burly bodies bumping into each other and banging into the boards, plus an endless stream of screaming and grunting and cursing.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Steeped in a culture of corruption, those who would take over from Maduro would continue to prioritize enriching themselves.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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Though Cheney was not personally named in litigation, Halliburton settled a Nigerian corruption complaint for $250 million.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Special Olympics has been fighting against the discriminatory use of the word since the term’s early days as an insult.—
Kate Reilly,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
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The race has been no short of dogged, as insults between the candidates on the debate stage have led to archives investigations and defamation lawsuit threats.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irreverence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreverence. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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