blasphemy
/ˈblasfəmi
/noun (plural blasphemies) [mass noun]
The action or offence of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk: he was detained on charges of blasphemy [count noun]: he was screaming incomprehensible blasphemies...
- A child from a Christian home can be put in an embarrassing situation if asked to read aloud a passage including swear words and blasphemy.
- Paul's blasphemy was unintended, and he repented when he recognized the truth.
- A strict control of blasphemy and bad language was maintained.
Synonyms
profanity, profaneness, sacrilege, irreligiousness, irreverence, taking the Lord's name in vain, swearing, curse, cursing, impiety, impiousness, ungodliness, unholiness, desecration, disrespect
formal imprecation
archaic execration
Origin
Middle English: from Old French, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek blasphēmia 'slander, blasphemy'.