as in atheistical
not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred
an impious act that horrified their pious mother
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Recent Examples of impious
This game must have seemed profane to the Greeks, or even impious.
—
Simone Weil, Harper's Magazine, 2 July 2024
Both narratives, private and public, differently restrict our access, so the ideal historian will need great tact and an impious curiosity.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
Sarah Thompson, the MFA’s curator of Japanese Art, and curatorial assistant Kendall DeBoer, who put the show’s more than 350 works together, deserve credit for being impious, not reverent.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2023
Some seem startlingly impious.
—Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 18 Aug. 2020
To cut short these death throes is both impious (for those who believe) and immoral (for anyone).
—Michel Houellebecq, Harper’s Magazine , 6 Jan. 2023
Bragadin’s cash was funding heavy gambling and elaborate, impious scenes of seduction.
—Clare Bucknell, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022
Simone Weil, Harper's Magazine, 2 July 2024
Both narratives, private and public, differently restrict our access, so the ideal historian will need great tact and an impious curiosity.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
Sarah Thompson, the MFA’s curator of Japanese Art, and curatorial assistant Kendall DeBoer, who put the show’s more than 350 works together, deserve credit for being impious, not reverent.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2023
Some seem startlingly impious.
—Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 18 Aug. 2020
To cut short these death throes is both impious (for those who believe) and immoral (for anyone).
—Michel Houellebecq, Harper’s Magazine , 6 Jan. 2023
Bragadin’s cash was funding heavy gambling and elaborate, impious scenes of seduction.
—Clare Bucknell, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impious
Adjective
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The solution, too good to spoil here, involves a sacrilegious yet principled breach of a basic rule—and a tweak to a pitcher’s very identity.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2025
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Drinking a Bloody Mary at night just feels wrong and confusing, sacrilegious even, which is hilarious because everything else goes.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Rushdie has received death threats ever since 1989, starting with the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses, which was declared by some as blasphemous.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
21 Feb. 2025
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The piece was dubbed blasphemous by many Muslims and has been banned in Iran since 1988.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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An adult secular choir has become massively popular thanks to its policy of no shaming and letting in everyone who wants to join.—
Jessie Schiewe,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2025
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There are many young secular Jews who have been uncomfortable with Israel’s actions.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The irreverent former late-night host will make a repeat performance as host of the 98th Academy Awards in March 2026, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
17 Mar. 2025
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Lobo, who has a violent and irreverent personality, hails from the planet Czarnia.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impious. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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