profane
Americanadjective
-
characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.
- Synonyms:
- ungodly , impious , sacrilegious , blasphemous
- Antonyms:
- sacred
-
not devoted to holy or religious purposes; unconsecrated; secular (sacred ).
- Synonyms:
- temporal
- Antonyms:
- spiritual
-
unholy; heathen; pagan.
profane rites.
- Synonyms:
- unhallowed
- Antonyms:
- holy
-
not initiated into religious rites or mysteries, as persons.
-
common or vulgar.
adjective
-
having or indicating contempt, irreverence, or disrespect for a divinity or something sacred
-
not designed or used for religious purposes; secular
-
not initiated into the inner mysteries or sacred rites
-
vulgar, coarse, or blasphemous
profane language
verb
-
to treat or use (something sacred) with irreverence
-
to put to an unworthy or improper use
Other Word Forms
- half-profane adjective
- nonprofane adjective
- nonprofanely adverb
- nonprofaneness noun
- profanation noun
- profanatory adjective
- profanely adverb
- profaneness noun
- profaner noun
- semiprofane adjective
- semiprofanely adverb
- semiprofaneness noun
- unprofane adjective
- unprofaned adjective
- unprofanely adverb
- unprofaneness noun
Etymology
Origin of profane
1350–1400; (adj.) < Latin profānus literally, before (outside of ) the temple; replacing Middle English prophane < Medieval Latin prophānus desecrated ( pro- 1, fane ); (v.) < Latin profānāre, derivative of profānus; replacing Middle English prophanen < Medieval Latin prophānāre to desecrate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lazar shouted profane insults at police through the bullhorn, calling them tyrants and yelling, “Let’s get their guns!”
From Seattle Times
Drivers in Houston were sent a profane message this week when someone edited a road sign in the city’s Montrose neighborhood to read “Due To Weather Go F*** Your Self.”
From Washington Times
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy issued a profane challenge to those Republican members of the House of Representatives threatening to oust him from the speakership during a closed party conference Thursday morning.
From Salon
Herkert, a New York state court system employee, also has a tarp on his lawn painted with a profane version of the phrase, “No way!”
From Seattle Times
Goldberg is charming and sharp, with a quip for every occasion, but he can also be ruthlessly profane — both in person and on the page.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
