as in atheistical
not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred
a sacrilegious, obscene joke—and told in church at that!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 sacrilegious
But the French debate over whether to show images of Muhammad, which many Muslims view as sacrilegious, is still being waged today.
—
Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025
Griswold—whose father, once the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, consecrated the denomination’s first openly gay bishop—treats the pastors generously, though gingerly, constructing from their lowest moments an affecting study of sacred life in sacrilegious times.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
The cartoon images deeply offended many Muslims, who saw them as sacrilegious.
—Tom Nouvian and Samuel Petrequin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
This declaration should not be mistaken for vain clickbait or an attempt to be sacrilegious.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sacrilegious
Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025
Griswold—whose father, once the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, consecrated the denomination’s first openly gay bishop—treats the pastors generously, though gingerly, constructing from their lowest moments an affecting study of sacred life in sacrilegious times.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
The cartoon images deeply offended many Muslims, who saw them as sacrilegious.
—Tom Nouvian and Samuel Petrequin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
This declaration should not be mistaken for vain clickbait or an attempt to be sacrilegious.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sacrilegious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sacrilegious
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
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
-
Lobo, who has a violent and irreverent personality, hails from the planet Czarnia.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
There are many young secular Jews who have been uncomfortable with Israel’s actions.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Allen's defense team aggressively pushed their theory that Odinists, members of a pagan Norse religion hijacked by white nationalists, killed the girls during a sacrificial ritual in the woods.—
Kristine Phillips,
The Indianapolis Star,
13 Nov. 2024
-
There’s a lot of folklore, superstition and myth — pagan elements really, that are folded into how people actually practice religion in Ireland.—
Georg Szalai,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Sacrilegious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sacrilegious. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share