blasphemy

[blas-fuh-mee]

See more synonyms for blasphemy on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural blas·phe·mies.

impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things.
Judaism.
1. an act of cursing or reviling God.
2. pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton (YHVH) in the original, now forbidden manner instead of using a substitute pronunciation such as Adonai.
Theology. the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God.

irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred, priceless, etc.: He uttered blasphemies against life itself.

Origin of blasphemy

1175–1225; Middle English blasphemie < Late Latin blasphēmia < Greek. See blasphemous, -y³

Related formsnon·blas·phe·my, noun, plural non·blas·phe·mies.

Synonyms for blasphemy

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. profanity, cursing, swearing; sacrilege, impiety.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for blasphemy

heresy, desecration, sacrilege, execration, scoffing, profanity, impiety, imprecation, scurrility, profanation, abuse, lewdness, indignity, vituperation, reviling, cursing, cussing

Examples from the Web for blasphemy

Contemporary Examples of blasphemy

According to Pew, 14 of the 20 countries in the Middle East and North Africa have blasphemy laws.
In Defense of Blasphemy
Michael Tomasky
January 9, 2015
Have a look at this telling research from Pew on blasphemy and apostasy laws around the world.
In Defense of Blasphemy
Michael Tomasky
January 9, 2015
Since 1987, there have been roughly 1,300 cases filed under the blasphemy laws, according to varied reports.
Disco Mullah Blasphemy Row Highlights Pakistan’s Hypocrisy
Shaheen Pasha
December 21, 2014
Its blasphemy law, which carries the death penalty, is frequently invoked and just as frequently misused.
Pakistan’s Dance With Terrorists Just Backfired and Killed 132 Children
Chris Allbritton
December 17, 2014
If you muttered, “blasphemy” after reading the first tip about skipping a snack, then snack smart.
6 Ways to Avoid ‘Sochi Gut’ While Watching the Olympics
Jenna A. Bell
February 12, 2014

Historical Examples of blasphemy

Yet it were blasphemy to say that true love is other than immortal.
Other Tales and Sketches
Nathaniel Hawthorne
It was blasphemy to think of her in such case, subjected to the degradation of these processes.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
Comrade Ossipon met the shock of this blasphemy by an awful, vacant stare.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
It is not only nonsense, but blasphemy, to say that man has spoilt the country.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton
It were blasphemy to call this riot the desire for progress for the masses.
Blood and Iron
John Hubert Greusel

British Dictionary definitions for blasphemy

blasphemy

noun plural -mies

blasphemous behaviour or language
Also called: blasphemous libel law the crime committed if a person insults, offends, or vilifies the deity, Christ, or the Christian religion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for blasphemy

early 13c., from Old French blasfemie "blasphemy," from Late Latin blasphemia, from Greek blasphemia "a speaking ill, impious speech, slander," from blasphemein "to speak evil of." Second element is pheme "utterance" (see fame); first element uncertain, perhaps related to blaptikos "hurtful," though blax "slack (in body and mind), stupid" also has been suggested.