as in atheistic
not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred
irreverent behavior during church services
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Recent Examples of irreverent
Barneys New York ranks as one of retail’s greatest makeovers — transforming from a menswear discounter in the ’60s into a chic and irreverent enclave for luxury fashion.
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David Moin, Footwear News, 11 June 2026
Although the book also connects the personal and the political, its irreverent intimacy felt risky for someone with a mass audience.
—Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
For young men feeling dejected by the public conversation about toxic masculinity, Tate’s celebrations of manhood were galvanizing, and his mocking assaults on feminism felt bracingly irreverent.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Bernardi prefers to craft a new panto each year but the enthusiastic response to the company’s irreverent 2022 reworking of the Charles Dickens classic, both from audiences and from the actors who were in it, led to this revival.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for irreverent
David Moin, Footwear News, 11 June 2026
Although the book also connects the personal and the political, its irreverent intimacy felt risky for someone with a mass audience.
—Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
For young men feeling dejected by the public conversation about toxic masculinity, Tate’s celebrations of manhood were galvanizing, and his mocking assaults on feminism felt bracingly irreverent.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Bernardi prefers to craft a new panto each year but the enthusiastic response to the company’s irreverent 2022 reworking of the Charles Dickens classic, both from audiences and from the actors who were in it, led to this revival.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for irreverent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreverent
Adjective
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Much to the disdain of the elite, more sympathetic to Ataturk’s vision of a secular republic, Erdogan has steered Turkey’s politics in a decidedly Islamist direction, forging ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and positioning itself as a central power player in the Muslim world.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
14 June 2026
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The docudrama drew large crowds in France last year despite criticism from some secular and Catholic sources.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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In Europe, the painting was received as a blasphemous shock.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
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While paella has traveled far beyond Spain’s borders—often in versions that are blasphemous to the locals—this region is its ancestral home.—
Sofia Perez,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Some do not agree with our message, but that does not render our display sacrilegious.—
Samantha Chaney,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
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To many, including me, this seemed sacrilegious.—
Brian Halligan,
Fortune,
25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Many other traditionalists have made a version of Scruton’s critique, insisting that contemporary art reflects self-indulgent, relativistic, and impious tendencies.—
Luis Parrales,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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While no formal announcement has been made to update its longstanding alcohol ban, Andrew Leber of Tulane University said this is in line with the Kingdom’s past approach to such potentially impious reforms.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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They are known for sharing outspoken left-wing takes on politics and using profane language.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
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Kattalin is caught between duty and desire, people and parish – at the mercy of judgments both sacred and profane.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Warily establishing themselves in a new settlement, where the husband gets work carving an idol for a pagan temple, they are initially welcomed.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
12 Nov. 2025
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From pagan spirits to Wonder Woman, take a look at a brief history of this holiday’s costumes.—
Sarah Hutter,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irreverent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreverent. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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