profane
Americanadjective
-
characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.
- Synonyms:
- ungodly , impious , sacrilegious , blasphemous
- Antonyms:
- sacred
-
not devoted to holy or religious purposes; unconsecrated; secular (sacred ).
- Synonyms:
- temporal
- Antonyms:
- spiritual
-
unholy; heathen; pagan.
profane rites.
- Synonyms:
- unhallowed
- Antonyms:
- holy
-
not initiated into religious rites or mysteries, as persons.
-
common or vulgar.
adjective
-
having or indicating contempt, irreverence, or disrespect for a divinity or something sacred
-
not designed or used for religious purposes; secular
-
not initiated into the inner mysteries or sacred rites
-
vulgar, coarse, or blasphemous
profane language
verb
-
to treat or use (something sacred) with irreverence
-
to put to an unworthy or improper use
Other Word Forms
- half-profane adjective
- nonprofane adjective
- nonprofanely adverb
- nonprofaneness noun
- profanation noun
- profanatory adjective
- profanely adverb
- profaneness noun
- profaner noun
- semiprofane adjective
- semiprofanely adverb
- semiprofaneness noun
- unprofane adjective
- unprofaned adjective
- unprofanely adverb
- unprofaneness noun
Etymology
Origin of profane
1350–1400; (adj.) < Latin profānus literally, before (outside of ) the temple; replacing Middle English prophane < Medieval Latin prophānus desecrated ( pro- 1, fane ); (v.) < Latin profānāre, derivative of profānus; replacing Middle English prophanen < Medieval Latin prophānāre to desecrate
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.
Fast and profane, it is fueled by what “A Clockwork Orange” once called a bit of the old ultraviolence.
From New York Times
“Succession” did this better than most, but it had the advantage of multiple monsters, brilliantly profane banter and mesmerizing actors.
From Los Angeles Times
In one instance, the judge wrote that aides to Jill Biden, the first lady, repeatedly cajoled Twitter executives to remove a video that was edited to make her seem profane toward a group of children.
From New York Times
In profane social media posts, he accused Mr. Shoigu and the military’s chief of the general staff of cowardice and corruption, and of sending Russians into slaughter.
From New York Times
TALLINN, Estonia — Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was notorious for unbridled and profane challenges to authority even before the attempted rebellion that he mounted Saturday.
From Washington Times
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.
