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profane

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verb

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of profane
Adjective
Dupree has Tourette Syndrome, and her symptoms include vocal tics and profane outbursts as a result of coprolalia. William Earl, Variety, 17 June 2025 Workers were spotted Tuesday morning installing plywood over broken windows and scrubbing at graffiti — primarily profane attacks aimed at President Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 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
  • Generally, Proverbs-Job-Ecclesiastes can be viewed as a temporal trilogy reflecting certainty about wealth and health type rewards in this life for righteousness, with a transition to questioning any such connection, and then cynicism.
    Walt Shelton, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • In recent years, the editors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists have added factors ranging from climate change to artificial intelligence into their temporal calculus.
    Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • The use of obscene or profane language, personal attack, libel, slander, defamation, physical violence or the threat thereof, as determined by the presiding officer, shall constitute a disturbing a lawful meeting.
    Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025
  • Meanwhile, the Astors, who had amassed a nearly obscene amount of real estate in New York City, became the country’s first multimillionaires by smuggling opium.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Some have been corrupted by money and power, betraying each other as readily as the criminals do.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Parliament has been corrupted by agents of a genocidal foreign power.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Karlovy Vary is famous for not being precious about its honorary awards; each year’s trailer features a previous winner trash-talking, misusing or even destroying the event’s distinctive Crystal Globe statuette.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 July 2025
  • Fireworks are beautiful to watch, but can be deadly if misused.
    John Tufts, IndyStar, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Last year, the Department of Justice sued Legends for violating federal waiting period requirements related to its acquisition of ASM Global, which was the former operator of Pechanga Arena San Diego.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
  • Unintentional bias or disproportionate outcomes alone do not violate the statute.
    Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Despite teaching secular subjects, the court deemed his role sufficiently religious to fall under the ministerial exception, barring his discrimination claim under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
    A.J. Schumann, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2025
  • The bill gives school districts the option to employ or bring in volunteer chaplains, who can provide either secular advice or religious advice ― the latter, only if the students and parents consent.
    Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • The comics were often dismissed as a vulgar form, but the bad joke of our superhero-movie culture is that most of it is a vulgarization of the comics.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 July 2025
  • Nan’s rebellion was never loud or vulgar but always quietly confident and effortlessly elegant.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • Customer service was once rated among the highest in the American Customer Satisfaction Index – until relentless budget cuts started to degrade it.
    Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
  • But, unlike metal drill bits, which generally last for years, these enabling molecules are designed to degrade very quickly, falling apart within a few days at most.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Profane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profane. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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