blaspheme

American  

[blas-feem, blas-feem] / blæsˈfim, ˈblæs fim /

verb (used with object)

• blasphemes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• blasphemed,
  past participle,  past
• blaspheming
  present participle

1. to speak impiously or irreverently of (God or sacred things).

2. to speak evil of; slander; abuse.

---

verb (used without object)

• blasphemes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• blasphemed,
  past participle,  past
• blaspheming
  present participle

1. to speak irreverently of God or sacred things; utter impieties.

blaspheme British  

/ blæsˈfiːm /

verb

1. (tr) to show contempt or disrespect for (God, a divine being, or sacred things), esp in speech

2. (intr) to utter profanities, curses, or impious expressions

---

Synonym Usage

See curse.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• blasphemer
  noun
• unblasphemed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• blaspheming
  present
• blasphemed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• blaspheme
  simple
• blasphemes
  simple
• have blasphemed
  perfect
• has blasphemed
  perfect
• am blaspheming
  progressive
• are blaspheming
  progressive
• is blaspheming
  progressive
• have been blaspheming
  perfect progressive
• has been blaspheming
  perfect progressive

Past

• blasphemed
  simple
• had blasphemed
  perfect
• was blaspheming
  progressive
• were blaspheming
  progressive
• had been blaspheming
  perfect progressive

Future

• will blaspheme
  simple
• will have blasphemed
  perfect
• will be blaspheming
  progressive
• will have been blaspheming
  perfect progressive

---

Etymology

Origin of blaspheme

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Late Latin blasphēmāre, from Greek blasphēmeîn “to speak profanely,” derivative of blásphēmos blasphemous

---

Explanation

To blaspheme is to say something offensive, specifically offensive to a religion. There are several types of blaspheming, but they usually involve saying things that are considered offensive to a religion or to a deity. If you say "Jesus Christ!" or "Good God!" when you stub your toe, some would consider that blaspheming.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blaspheme blasphemes blasphemed blaspheming

“I don’t really understand how you can blaspheme about something that happened, even in 1625,” he said, offering up excerpts from Brown’s book.

From New York Times ● Jul. 10, 2021

President Emmanuel Macron spoke out in support of the teenager, arguing that in France "we have the right to blaspheme".

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2021

I’m about to blaspheme here, so hold onto your knickers, Dodger fans, but Vin Scully used to have me snoring by the fourth inning, his drone being the perfect cure for insomnia.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2021

Mila has appeared on French television to say she did not regret the video and to defend the right to blaspheme.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 12, 2020

There is no melodic or harmonic line, only a series of points, dots, dashes, or phrases that sob and scream, despair, explode, exalt, blaspheme.

From Ivory Apes and Peacocks by James Huneker

The consistent mind mocks and distorts life itself, blasphemes and perverts everything in a uni verse that insists on motion.

From Time Magazine Archive

I make a distinction," Herman put in good naturedly, "between swearing and blasphemy; and Tom never blasphemes.

From The Pagans by Arlo Bates

It is not certain that he blasphemes," replied the Caliph: "every man may call himself a prophet, provided he proves his mission by miracles.

From Eastern Tales by Many Story Tellers by L. (Laura) Valentine

Thus mouths and blasphemes round about An age in bondage to its doubt.

From Song-waves by Theodore H. (Theodore Harding) Rand

If she swears, they call her a perjurer; if she weeps, they say that she is acting; and that she blasphemes when she calls on God.

From The Social Cancer by Charles E. Derbyshire

Juan de Salas stood before the inquisitor Moriz in Vallalodid on June 21, 1527, and once again denied he had blasphemed the evangelists.

From Salon ● Dec. 5, 2015

"I've had a lot more fun watching and arguing about the Twilight movies than I ever had with the Star Wars saga, that lumbering, narratively hobbled space opera," he blasphemed recently.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 15, 2012

"Texas" blasphemed, tried the door, finally fired through it.

From Time Magazine Archive

And conservatism sighs for the good old days when they blasphemed Liberty at their little suppers, 'And—blest condition!-felt genteel.'

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No 3, September, 1862 Devoted to Literature and National Policy. by Various

Indeed, there was a further shame: how could he confess himself the disciple of the Master whom he had heard blasphemed without protest?

From The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ A Devotional History of our Lord's Passion by James Stalker

The wonderfully blaspheming Ella, who is wise to everyone’s deceits, steals many of the scenes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

As he saw it, what his son was doing, like what the sunbathers and the bikers were doing, was not blaspheming the memorial: There can be no forgetting, he said.

From New York Times ● May 28, 2014

“Bill, you’re blaspheming me,” Mr. Icahn complained, according to Mr. Ackman.

From New York Times ● Nov. 26, 2011

The maximum penalty for blaspheming, destroying hops, burning a haystack, or "maliciously damaging a river bank" is still life imprisonment.

From Time Magazine Archive

I wasn’t blaspheming, I was asking for information.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---