Sacrilege is behaviour that shows great disrespect for a holy place or object.
Stealing from a place of worship was regarded as sacrilege.
Synonyms: desecration, violation, blasphemy, mockery More Synonyms of sacrilege
2. uncountable noun [oft aNOUN]
You can use sacrilege to refer to disrespect that is shown for someone who is widely admired or for a belief that is widely accepted.
It is a sacrilege to offend democracy.
Synonyms: disrespect, contempt, disregard, dishonour More Synonyms of sacrilege
sacrilege in British English
(ˈsækrɪlɪdʒ)
noun
1.
the misuse or desecration of anything regarded as sacred or as worthy of extreme respect
to play Mozart's music on a kazoo is sacrilege
2.
the act or an instance of taking anything sacred for secular use
Derived forms
sacrilegist (ˌsækrɪˈliːdʒɪst)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French sacrilège, from Latin sacrilegium, from sacrilegus temple-robber, from sacra sacred things + legere to take
sacrilege in American English
(ˈsækrəˌlɪdʒ)
noun
1.
the act of appropriating to oneself or to secular use, or of violating, what is consecrated to God or religion
2.
the intentional desecration or disrespectful treatment of a person, place, thing, or idea held sacred
SYNONYMY NOTE: sacrilege implies a violation of something sacred, as by appropriating to oneself or to a secularuse something that has been dedicated to a religious purpose; , profanation suggests a lack of reverence or a positive contempt for things regarded as sacred;, desecration implies a removal of the sacredness of some object or place, as by defiling or pollutingit
Word origin
ME < MFr < L sacrilegium < sacrilegus, temple robber < sacer, sacred + legere, to gather up, take away: see logic
Examples of 'sacrilege' in a sentence
sacrilege
Yet it would be the sin against the Spirit itself ever to attempt such a thing, and upon such a figure as that it would be sacrilege.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A ROOMFUL OF BIRDS - SCOTTISH SHORT STORIES 1990 (2002)
Parson Hooper pointed out that it would threaten St Pinnock's holy well: `Have we not seen enough sacrilege of late?
Philip Marsden THE MAIN CAGES (2002)
`About murder and sacrilege, crimes as sordid as any treason!
Grace, C.L A SHRINE OF MURDERS (2002)
It's like this hang-up you have, like I'm committing some kind of sacrilege.
Rodriguez, Abraham SPIDERTOWN (2002)
1 (noun)
Definition
the misuse of or disrespect shown to something sacred
Stealing from a place of worship was considered a sacrilege.
Synonyms
desecration
The whole area has been shocked by the desecration of the cemetery.
violation
This violation of the church is not the first such incident.
blasphemy
a petition campaign against blasphemy on television
mockery
heresy
irreverence
profanity
To desecrate a holy spring is considered profanity.
impiety
profanation
profaneness
Opposites
respect
,
reverence
,
piety
2 (noun)
Definition
disrespect for a person who is widely admired or a belief that is widely accepted
It is a sacrilege to offend democracy.
Synonyms
disrespect
We would never treat each other with disrespect.
contempt
I will treat that remark with the contempt it deserves.
disregard
a callous disregard for human life
dishonour
lack of respect
irreverence
impertinence
The impertinence of the boy is phenomenal!
discourtesy
He was brusque to the point of discourtesy.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blasphemy
Definition
behaviour or language that shows disrespect for God or sacred things
a petition campaign against blasphemy on television
Synonyms
irreverence,
swearing,
cursing,
indignity,
disrespect,
desecration,
sacrilege,
profanity,
impiety,
profanation,
execration,
profaneness,
impiousness
in the sense of contempt
Definition
scorn
I will treat that remark with the contempt it deserves.
Synonyms
scorn,
despite (archaic),
disdain,
mockery,
derision,
disrespect,
disregard,
contumely (literary)
in the sense of discourtesy
He was brusque to the point of discourtesy.
Synonyms
rudeness,
bad manners,
insolence,
impertinence,
incivility,
ill-breeding,
impoliteness,
disrespectfulness,
ungraciousness,
unmannerliness
Nearby words of
sacrilege
sacred
sacrifice
sacrificial
sacrilege
sacrilegious
sacrosanct
sad
Synonyms of 'sacrilege'
sacrilege
Explore 'sacrilege' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disregard
Definition
lack of attention or respect
a callous disregard for human life
Synonyms
ignoring,
neglect,
contempt,
indifference,
negligence,
disdain,
disrespect,
heedlessness
in the sense of impertinence
The impertinence of the boy is phenomenal!
Synonyms
rudeness,
nerve (informal),
cheek (informal),
face (informal),
front,
neck (informal),
sauce (informal),
presumption,
disrespect,
audacity,
boldness,
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal),
insolence,
impudence,
effrontery,
backchat (informal),
brass neck (British, informal),
incivility,
brazenness,
forwardness,
pertness
in the sense of impiety
Definition
lack of respect or religious reverence
Synonyms
sacrilege,
wickedness,
iniquity,
irreverence,
profanity,
sinfulness,
godlessness,
unrighteousness,
irreligion,
ungodliness,
profaneness,
unholiness
in the sense of profanity
Definition
the quality of being profane
To desecrate a holy spring is considered profanity.
Synonyms
sacrilege,
blasphemy,
irreverence,
impiety,
profaneness
in the sense of violation
This violation of the church is not the first such incident.