impious
Americanadjective
-
not pious or religious; lacking reverence for God, religious practices, etc.; irreligious; ungodly.
- Synonyms:
- irreverent, blasphemous, sacrilegious
adjective
-
lacking piety or reverence for a god; ungodly
-
lacking respect; undutiful
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of impious
Explanation
To be impious is to be disrespectful of god or duty. When someone is being impious they are doing things that their church, synagogue, temple, mosque, school principal, government or parents would find unacceptable. When you don’t show reverence for religion or god, you are impious. The adjective impious is related to the word piety, which means religious reverence. To be impious is to be without piety. Being impious is similar to being blasphemous, but it’s a little more passive to be impious, while blasphemy is more actively insulting. Also, when you act out against tradition or dutifulness, you could be considered impious. If you dodge a military draft, you will likely be considered impious.
Vocabulary lists containing impious
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Common Sense," Vocabulary from the pamphlet
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Common Sense
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Impious I deem the alliance which he asks, Requite him words severe for seeming kind, And righteous, if he falls, I count his fall.
From Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold by Arnold, Matthew
Impious people, you say, deprived of the flattering hopes of another life, desire to be annihilated.
From Superstition In All Ages (1732) Common Sense by Knoop, Anna
Impious or just, once sworn, To break it sure were shame.
From The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 5, May 1810 by Carpenter, S. C. (Stephen Cullen)
A solemn voice was heard from the interior of the temple, saying, in a warning tone, "Impious man! how dost thou dare to molest those who have placed themselves under my protection?"
From Cyrus the Great Makers of History by Abbott, Jacob
Over French and English religious pictures the inscription, "See how Impious I am," is equally legible.
From Selections From the Works of John Ruskin by Ruskin, John
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.
