adjective / verb
profane
pruh-FAYN/prəˈfeɪn/
Treating sacred or revered things with disrespect.
Resting muddy boots on the ceremonial altar is profane behavior.
Etymology
“In front of the temple” perhaps suggested someone not admitted among its initiates. The resulting sense “not consecrated” developed into being irreverent toward sacred things.
In context
use no profane language utter no word that will cause the most virtuous to blush
More examples
- Vandals profane the shrine by scrawling insults across its walls.
- Her profane parody mocks a prayer that many consider sacred.
- They believe the careless renovations have profaned their ancestors' burial ground.
Forms
profane · profanes · profaned · profaning · more profane · most profane
profanation noun — Disrespectful treatment of sacred or revered things.
Similar words
- irreverent
- Shows disrespect, often playfully, without necessarily targeting anything sacred.
- desecrate
- Emphasizes violating the holiness of a place or object.
- blasphemous
- Specifically insults God, religious beliefs, or things considered holy.