blasphemy

[blas-fuh-mee]

noun

plural

blasphemies 

1. impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things.

   Synonyms: impiety, sacrilege, profanity

2. Judaism.

   1. an act of cursing or reviling God.

   2. pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) in the original, now forbidden manner instead of using a substitute pronunciation such as Adonai.

3. Theology.,  the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God.

4. irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred, priceless, etc..

   He uttered blasphemies against life itself.

blasphemy

/ ˈblæsfɪmɪ /

noun

1. blasphemous behaviour or language

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

Other Word Forms

• nonblasphemy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blasphemy¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English blasphemie, from Late Latin blasphēmia, from Greek, equivalent to blasphem(ous) + -y ³

Example Sentences

Essay Topic: Given that we probably shouldn’t, as mere mortals, assume divine powers, is condemning someone to hell — or entire countries, in this case — an act of blasphemy?

From Los Angeles Times

Nigeria's Supreme Court has in the past ruled that blasphemy allegations must be proven in a court of law.

From BBC

“However, when Steve talked about transhumanism being a blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, I think he means it in a much more literal sense than I would take it myself,” Allen said.

From Salon

There is no such thing as blasphemy from Donald Trump's point of view.

From Salon

Judge McGarva said he did not view the case as an attempt to expand blasphemy laws.

From BBC

Related Words

• desecration 
• heresy