blasphemy

noun

ˈblas-fə-mē How to pronounce blasphemy (audio)
Definition of blasphemynext
as in sacrilege
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things in the 17th century the Quakers were persecuted for beliefs and practices that older churches regarded as blasphemies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 blasphemy If the state decides to officially charge him with blasphemy, Pragiwaksono could go to trial. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 July 2026 Astorino, the textbook author, went so far as to decry the showcase as something close to blasphemy. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 This was a weak case for blasphemy. — Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026 The president later removed the post in the face of outrage and accusations of blasphemy. — Laura Kelly, The Hill, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for blasphemy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blasphemy
  1. sacrilege
  2. desecration
  3. violation
  4. cursing
  5. impiety
  6. corruption
  7. profanation
  8. irreverence
Noun
  • Advertisement To the Eagle Family, these scenes were sacrilege.
    — Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
  • While this might seem like capitalist sacrilege, Gearin says there’s historical precedent for Indigenous peoples using plant medicine as a tool to navigate the practical demands of the world.
    — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of sacrilege
Noun
  • The gang steals sacred objects, but their movements around them can resemble ceremony not desecration.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • These are two examples of politicians' truths among a plethora of others that are really lies, distortions, deceptions and desecrations of the citizens' trust in them.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of desecration
Noun
  • And unlike state authorities who can be sued for civil rights violations in state courts, federal law enforcement authorities are generally shielded from such lawsuits based on legal precedents.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Chicago should provide workable loading zones, preserve first-offense warnings, and publicly report whether violations and crashes actually decline.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Seeman was caught on camera cursing at McBride during the Cardinals’ loss at the New York Giants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Paxton had argued that the law-school clinic was not a classroom but a workplace, and that Fisher was punished not for expressing political views but because her cursing and volume had disrupted clinic business.
    — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of cursing
Noun
  • By one hand, he is bound to himself, to his impiety, his recklessness, his envy and pride, his guilt and spite.
    — Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of impiety
Noun
  • Talarico’s success so far can partly be chalked up to voters’ apprehensions toward Paxton, who faced questions in his past over corruption, including being impeached by his own party in the Texas legislature.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Blagojevich was impeached, removed from office by a unanimous 59-0 Illinois Senate vote and convicted of federal corruption offenses.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of corruption
Noun
  • Scottish hen parties were deemed to contain ritualistic profanation.
    — Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
  • No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move; ’Twere profanation of our joys To tell the laity our love.
    — John Edgar Wideman, The New Yorker, 8 July 2021
Definition of profanation
Noun
  • The prime minister has feebly tried to make his own reels in response, but that failed to stem the tide of public irreverence.
    — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But the bold irreverence that drew droves of devoted readers to Jezebel brought contention, too.
    — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of irreverence

Browse Nearby Words

blasphemousness
blasphemy
blast
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Cite this Entry

“Blasphemy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blasphemy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on blasphemy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blasphemy

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