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

Enes Kanter Freedom exposes Natasha Cloud's profane tirade after WNBA ejection. — FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

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

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