blaspheme
Americanverb (used with object)
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to speak impiously or irreverently of (God or sacred things).
-
to speak evil of; slander; abuse.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr) to show contempt or disrespect for (God, a divine being, or sacred things), esp in speech
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(intr) to utter profanities, curses, or impious expressions
Synonym Usage
See curse.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has blasphemedperfect 3rd person singular
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have blasphemedperfect
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have been blasphemingperfect progressive
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am blasphemingprogressive 1st person singular
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blasphemessingular 3rd person
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blasphemingparticiple
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is blasphemingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are blasphemingprogressive
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has been blasphemingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had blasphemedperfect
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had been blasphemingperfect progressive
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was blasphemingprogressive singular
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blasphemedsimple
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were blasphemingprogressive plural
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blasphemedparticiple
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing blaspheme
Things Fall Apart
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The Secret Life of Bees
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Elijah of Buxton
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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.
“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
"He wanted to say something more, but he did not dare blaspheme, and there was silence again in the little cottage...."
From Contemporary Russian Novelists by Persky, Serge
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.
