1
as in temporal
not involving religion or religious matters
it was hard to juggle the requirements of church and our more profane duties
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in atheistical
not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred
offended by the profane language that her coworkers used so casually
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
his idea of dinner table conversation is the telling of profane stories about his alleged sexual exploits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to corrupt
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
the once-lovely landscape had been profaned by ugly factories
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to misuse
to put to a bad or improper use
profaned his considerable acting talents by appearing in some wretched movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to violate
to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect
invading troops profaned the altar by playing poker on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of profane
Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
Scoffs could be heard at points on both sides and multiple audience members made loud, sometimes profane interjections at various assertions from Walton, Kennedy and Suarez.
—Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2021
The narrative is that of a leader who has experienced vilification at the hands of enemies who are both secular (and thus profane) and intensely demonic.
—Federico Finchelstein, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2020
See All Example Sentences for profane
Adjective
Gilliam is not contesting states' rights to ban profane, sexualized or vulgar plates.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
Scoffs could be heard at points on both sides and multiple audience members made loud, sometimes profane interjections at various assertions from Walton, Kennedy and Suarez.
—Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Her husband, the exuberant and often profane former Dodgers manager who won two World Series championships, died Jan. 7 at 93.
—Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2021
The narrative is that of a leader who has experienced vilification at the hands of enemies who are both secular (and thus profane) and intensely demonic.
—Federico Finchelstein, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2020
See All Example Sentences for profane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profane
Adjective
-
This temporal blurring between past and present is echoed in the structure of the installation itself, which creates a kind of time loop between the two films, shuttling the viewer between the immediate danger of the war’s outbreak and the lingering trauma of its memory.—
Joanna Warsza,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Las acciones de Google son especialmente insensibles y graves ante el cierre administrativo temporal del gobierno (shutdown), ignorando las peticiones de funcionarios gubernamentales y organizaciones hispanas que les solicitaron mantener la programación de Univision en el paquete principal.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Banners or signs may not be commercial in nature or obscene, or cause any disturbance to other fans.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was docked $14,491 for making an obscene gesture after a big catch.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Democrats and civil libertarians said Trump corrupted the system of justice by getting involved.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Of course, what that sets up, in the game of Survivor, is someone ready to be corrupted.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That low percentage suggests that detention center staff are misusing strip searches, said Dana Flores, senior manager for youth justice in Colorado at the National Center for Youth Law.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
-
But all of these things are used as evidence — sometimes the sole evidence — that a person misused their benefits.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Since then Russia is suspected of testing NATO’s resolve by violating the airspace of Norway, Romania, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, and now Germany too.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Though Russian craft have repeatedly violated NATO airspace during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the shootdowns over Poland represented the first time NATO had shot down Russian drones.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Hamas’s founding goal was to wrest control of the Palestinian national movement from its secular rivals and transform it into an Islamist cause.—
Hussein Ibish,
The Atlantic,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Interview Jews, Israeli Arabs, Druze, orthodox, secular, etc.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Colorado has condemned a vulgar chant its fans directed at BYU during its football team’s 24-21 loss Saturday at Folsom Field.—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Protecting speech for all requires great tolerance for the vulgar, rude, offensive, angry, mean and, yes, even hateful.—
The Detroit News Editorial Board,
Twin Cities,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But warming ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, disease and human activity, such as pollution, have severely degraded Florida's reefs, according to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The team’s goal is to track and predict how asphalt roads degrade.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Profane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profane. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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