blasphemy

[ blas-fuh-mee ]

noun

, plural blas·phe·mies.

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 calledblasphemous libel law the crime committed if a person insults, offends, or vilifies the deity, Christ, or the Christian religion

Other Words From

• non·blasphe·my noun plural nonblasphemies

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

Still, the nation has always had more than it needs of voluntary censors, vigilantes eager to protect everybody from hazards like ugly words, sedition, blasphemy, unwelcome ideas and, perhaps worst of all, reality.

From Time

Between takes, I’m just chitchatting with him, and we were talking about this bit where Jay wears the bishop’s miter sorta like a shark, and I said, “We can only go so far with it, because if we go too far it’s blasphemy.”

From The Daily Beast

Six years later, he was arrested and accused of propaganda against the regime, blasphemy and illegal music activity.

From Time

It has already prompted cries of blasphemy and concerns that the book will promote Christian nationalism, the idea that America is and should remain a Christian nation.

From Washington Post

He never said it outright — Believe in me as you believe in God — that would have been obvious blasphemy and idolatry.

From Washington Post

According to Pew, 14 of the 20 countries in the Middle East and North Africa have blasphemy laws.

From The Daily Beast

Have a look at this telling research from Pew on blasphemy and apostasy laws around the world.

From The Daily Beast

Since 1987, there have been roughly 1,300 cases filed under the blasphemy laws, according to varied reports.

From The Daily Beast

Its blasphemy law, which carries the death penalty, is frequently invoked and just as frequently misused.

From The Daily Beast

If you muttered, “blasphemy” after reading the first tip about skipping a snack, then snack smart.

From The Daily Beast

Instead of writing slander and flat blasphemy, they propose to draw it, and not draw it mild.

From Project Gutenberg

That they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against thy holy people.

From Project Gutenberg

They looked on him, some about to stop their ears at his blasphemy; but one glance told it was no blasphemy, but bitter truth.

From Project Gutenberg

Was not this a blasphemy against the fatherly goodness of the Creator,—a base desertion of the cause of the disinherited?

From Project Gutenberg

It is a continental form of pleasantry, and an artistic experiment in blasphemy which is taken seriously by the unwise.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• desecration
• heresy