A Word A Day : Blasphemous



Saturday, 16th February 2008 : Today's Word is ...

Blasphemous



( Adjective )



Pronunciation : blás-fe-mess


Definition:


1. expressing or involving disrespect for God or sacred things

2. Impiously irreverent

3. characterized by profanity or cursing

4. (of behavior or especially language) characterized by obscenity or indecency

In religion, words or actions that display irreverence toward or contempt for God or that which is held sacred. Blasphemy is regarded as an offense against the community to varying degrees, depending on the extent of the identification of a religion with the society at large or the government.


Etymology:


Middle English blasfemous, from Late Latin blasphēmus, from Greek blasphēmos, from blasphēmein, to blaspheme


Synonyms


profane, sacrilegious, irreligious, offensive, improper, irreverent, impious, ungodly, cursing, disrespectful, godless, insulting, profanatory, profane, swearing


Antonyms


godly, pious, religious, respectful, reverent


Contextual Examples:


• The poster on the wall was blasphemous.

• His roaring curses of the first part of the fight had changed to a blasphemous chatter.

• You do not know Him, but He is here, He is in me, He is in my words, He is in thee, and even in those blasphemous words thou hast just uttered.


Related Words:


blaspheme : Verb

blasphemously : Adverb

blasphemy : Noun

blasphemousness : Noun


Common Misspellings of Trenchant:


blasfemous

flasfemous




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