Synonyms of profane

profane 1 of 2

adjective

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

• temporal
• secular
• physical
• nonreligious
• irreligious
• pagan
• mundane
• godless
• atheistic
• irreverent
• blasphemous
• corporal
• lay
• earthly
• sacrilegious
• worldly
• impious
• nondenominational
• nonsectarian
• terrestrial
• nonclerical
• religionless
• bodily
• carnal
• paganish
• laical
• unhallowed
• unconsecrated
• substantial
• material
• terrene
• fleshly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• religious
• sacred
• spiritual
• divine
• holy
• pious
• reverent
• sacrosanct
• consecrated
• hallowed
• devout
• godly
• metaphysical
• worshipful
• prayerful
• insubstantial
• immaterial
• ethereal
• sanctified
• unsubstantial
• incorporeal
• churchly
• nonphysical
• bodiless

2

as in secular

not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred

offended by the profane language that her coworkers used so casually

Synonyms & Similar Words

• secular
• atheistic
• irreverent
• blasphemous
• sacrilegious
• impious
• pagan
• irreligious
• heretical
• godless
• agnostic
• unholy
• unhallowed
• unconsecrated
• ungodly
• nonreligious
• religionless
• heathen
• miscreant
• paganish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pious
• reverent
• religious
• holy
• worshipful
• devout
• godly
• prayerful
• saintly
• sacred
• sainted
• worshipping
• sacrosanct
• consecrated
• sanctified
• hallowed
• God-fearing

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

• obscene
• vulgar
• pornographic
• foul
• nasty
• filthy
• dirty
• suggestive
• gross
• crude
• offensive
• unacceptable
• bawdy
• indecent
• ribald
• lewd
• raunchy
• obnoxious
• blue
• impure
• lascivious
• naughty
• unpleasant
• coarse
• disgusting
• unprintable
• smutty
• abusive
• undesirable
• trashy
• locker-room
• unwanted
• wanton
• stag
• X-rated
• wicked
• gutter
• infamous
• porny
• broad
• salacious
• scatological
• indelicate
• perverted
• indecorous
• objectionable
• depraved
• earthy
• unbecoming
• racy
• soft
• immodest
• salty
• repugnant
• repulsive
• loathsome
• unwelcome
• perverse
• risqué
• coarse-grained
• revolting
• off
• barnyard
• low
• gamy
• off-color
• abhorrent
• kinky
• distasteful
• repellent
• scurrilous
• exceptionable
• reprehensible
• censurable
• louche
• atrocious
• blameworthy
• blamable
• debasing
• hard-core
• soft-core

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wholesome
• clean
• puritanical
• prudish
• decent
• proper
• polite
• staid
• Victorian
• correct
• innocuous
• decorous
• respectable
• acceptable
• genteel
• prim
• appropriate
• inoffensive
• desirable
• G-rated
• nice
• pleasant
• priggish
• agreeable
• nonobscene
• suitable
• pure
• straitlaced
• welcome
• seemly
• pleasing
• becoming
• meet
• perfect
• fit
• virginal
• immaculate
• spotless
• endorsed
• approved
• sanctioned

profane

2 of 2

verb

prō-ˈfān 

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

• corrupt
• degrade
• pervert
• poison
• humiliate
• debauch
• subvert
• dilute
• dirty
• demean
• deprave
• debase
• weaken
• destroy
• prostitute
• deteriorate
• humble
• ruin
• bastardize
• damage
• pollute
• disgrace
• vitiate
• cheapen
• abase
• taint
• mar
• canker
• demoralize
• contaminate
• shame
• hurt
• lessen
• thin
• warp
• defile
• water down
• harm
• impair
• dishonor
• wreck
• spoil
• befoul
• tarnish
• begrime
• stain
• flaw
• deface
• take down
• descend
• blemish
• depreciate
• downgrade

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honor
• elevate
• uplift
• exalt
• better
• perfect
• ennoble
• improve
• amend
• enrich
• dignify
• clean
• enhance
• purify
• ameliorate
• restore
• cleanse
• clarify
• refine
• respect
• meliorate

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

• misuse
• abuse
• pervert
• prostitute
• misapply
• corrupt
• degrade
• misemploy
• desecrate
• twist
• debase
• mismanage

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• use
• employ
• apply
• utilize
• respect

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

• violate
• desecrate
• defile
• destroy
• insult
• ruin
• ravage
• demolish
• raid
• blaspheme
• swear
• curse
• pollute
• soil
• affront
• desolate
• contaminate
• taint
• foul
• offend
• rob
• outrage
• sully
• wreck
• sack
• defame
• poison
• deconsecrate
• plunder
• desacralize
• desanctify
• waste
• despoil
• devastate
• befoul
• loot
• annihilate
• decimate
• strip
• pillage
• spoil
• raze
• ransack
• crush

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bless
• honor
• sanctify
• dedicate
• consecrate
• respect
• hallow
• purge
• purify
• cleanse

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of profane

Adjective

For this reason, Serrano’s work, with its uncannily beatific admixture of the sacred and the profane, recovers something of the original impact of Paul’s scandalous proclamation. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

But the school’s dress code prohibits messages that are lewd, indecent, vulgar or profane. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026

Verb

At the risk of profaning a wonderful show, the second season is even better. — John Anderson, wsj.com, 4 Apr. 2023

Sean Delahanty, who was colorful, outspoken and sometimes profane in 20 years on Jefferson District Court, has died. — Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, 28 Jan. 2023