blasphemous

[ blas-fuh-muhs ]

adjective

1. uttering, containing, or exhibiting blasphemy; irreverent; profane.

   Synonyms: iconoclastic, apostate, irreligious, impious, sacrilegious

blasphemous

/ ˈblæsfɪməs /

adjective

1. expressing or involving impiousness or gross irreverence towards God, a divine being, or something sacred

Derived Forms

• ˈblasphemously, adverb

Other Words From

• blasphe·mous·ly adverb
• blasphe·mous·ness noun
• non·blasphe·mous adjective
• non·blasphe·mous·ly adverb
• non·blasphe·mous·ness noun
• semi·blasphe·mous adjective
• semi·blasphe·mous·ly adverb
• semi·blasphe·mous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blasphemous¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin blasphēmus, from Greek blásphēmos “defaming, speaking evil,” equivalent to blá(p)s(is) “harm, evil” ( blab- “harm” + -sis -sis ( def ); compare bláptein “to harm”) + -phēmos “speaking,” derivative of phḗmē “speech”; -ous ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of blasphemous¹

C15: via Late Latin, from Greek blasphēmos evil-speaking, from blapsis evil + phēmē speech

Example Sentences

The best parts of such a book are supposed to be blasphemous.

From The Daily Beast

In a blasphemous new novel Irish writer Colm Tóibín writes from the perspective of the Virgin Mary.

From The Daily Beast

After hearing the blasphemous clips insulting our beloved prophet, I would not hesitate to go after revenge.

From The Daily Beast

Their services at first struck everyone as blasphemous; but one gets used to everything in this country.

From Project Gutenberg

To any one who believes God to be omnipresent, the idea of His having ambassadors, or vicars upon earth, is blasphemous.

From Project Gutenberg

This was so general a custom that the Church published an ordinance against it as an impious and blasphemous usage.

From Project Gutenberg

This sounded blasphemous, while it gave me a sort of fearful joy.

From Project Gutenberg

At these blasphemous sounds, the pillars of the sanctuary were shaken.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disrespectful
• insulting
• profane
• sacrilegious