as in blasphemy
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things
the sect has no tolerance for any irreverence directed toward their spiritual leader
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irreverence
One of the great things about standup comedy is the freedom and the irreverence of it.
—
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
Page brought streetwise irreverence and church-house parody into her routines, proving that Black women could own their sexuality, and spirituality all at once.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Apr. 2025
With a premiere date set for July 9, the long-running Comedy Central series, masterminded by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, is coming back with all the irreverence fans have come to expect.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Very carefully, unless your boss is Graydon Carter, whose gift for irreverence and self-deprecation is almost as legendary as his hair.
—Jim Kelly, Air Mail, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
Page brought streetwise irreverence and church-house parody into her routines, proving that Black women could own their sexuality, and spirituality all at once.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Apr. 2025
With a premiere date set for July 9, the long-running Comedy Central series, masterminded by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, is coming back with all the irreverence fans have come to expect.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Very carefully, unless your boss is Graydon Carter, whose gift for irreverence and self-deprecation is almost as legendary as his hair.
—Jim Kelly, Air Mail, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irreverence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreverence
Noun
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In a mix of fascination, irreverence, fandom and possible blasphemy, video compilations of cardinals with Charli XCX soundtracks have popped up online.—
Emma Bubola,
New York Times,
7 May 2025
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Five Christian groups filed complaints to Indonesian police alleging blasphemy, leading to Thalisa’s arrest on October 8.—
Jack Guy,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Lea has dropped out of medical school to become a reformed Rabbi – which to her father is a sacrilege.—
Tom Teicholz,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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In Kahane’s theology, Jewish weakness was the sacrilege, and Jewish strength sanctified God.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Those participating in races can receive up to a $250 fine and/or up to 30 days in jail on the first violation, up to a $500 fine and/or up to 60 days in jail for the second violation, and up to a $1,000 fine and/or and up to six months in jail for a third.—
Alecia Taylor,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2025
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Consequences: Recognize and reward positive behaviors and address violations through appropriate accountability measures.—
Stephen M. Paskoff,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Throughout the movie, others caution Venis to shut down his deepfake AI tools which have led to military conflict and the desecration of holy sites across the world.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
31 May 2025
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Yet Jesus becomes angered by the desecration of the temple and begins tipping over the merchants' tables in the holy place while wielding a righteous whip.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The film's themes of corruption and the brave whistleblowers who expose it feel particularly apt in this current moment.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
5 June 2025
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Hochul chose him after his predecessor, Benjamin Brian, resigned amid charges of corruption, which were eventually dropped.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
4 June 2025
Noun
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These immigrants in Florida find Trump’s offer ‘an insult’ Many are skeptical.—
South Florida Sun Sentinel,
Sun Sentinel,
2 June 2025
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The master of appropriating insults just can’t do anything to make TACO his — Trump Always Cares Outstandingly just doesn’t have the same ring.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Scottish hen parties were deemed to contain ritualistic profanation.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Irreverence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreverence. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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