- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
  Log In

blasphemy

noun

blas·phe·myˈblas-fə-mē How to pronounce blasphemy (audio)

plural blasphemies

Synonyms ofblasphemy next

:the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God

accused ofblasphemy

:the act of claiming the attributes of adeity

for a mere man to suggest that he was … divine could only be viewed … asblasphemy—

John Bright †1889

:irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference betweenblasphemy andheresy?

Blasphemy, in a religious sense, refers to great disrespect shown to God or to something holy, or to something said or done that shows this kind of disrespect;heresy refers a belief or opinion that does not agree with the official belief or opinion of a particular religion. Both words are also sometimes used in general, not necessarily religious, contexts.

What is the verb form ofblasphemy?

The verb form ofblasphemy isblaspheme, as in "those who blaspheme God." It comes to English from the Late Latin wordblasphemare.

Doesblasphemy have to be spoken?

Although in certain senses of the word it may be more common to useblasphemy in reference to speech, it may also be applied to writing. The word has broadened in meaning beyond "the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God"; it is now also used with the meaning "irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable."

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples ofblasphemy in a Sentence

She was condemned by the church for utteringblasphemies. in the 17th century the Quakers were persecuted for beliefs and practices that older churches regarded asblasphemies

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage.Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.Send us feedback.

Arguments and accusations ofblasphemyregarding teaching yoga sutras rather than Bible scripture are rife within the Black yoga community.—

Tamika Caston-Miller,Outside Online, 26 Feb. 2025Throughout its engagement with the OIC, the special envoy has prioritized the protection of human rights, routinely championing the equal rights of religious minorities and opposing laws that criminalizeblasphemyand apostasy.—

Arsalan Suleman,Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2017Yet on October 11, the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) issued an opinion, non-binding but influential, that Ahok’s statement was indeedblasphemy.—

Sidney Jones,Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2017But there is evidence that French society is shifting on the acceptance ofblasphemy, particularly among France’s 5-million-strong Muslim population and the younger generation.—

Colette Davidson,The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025See All Example Sentences forblasphemy

Word History

Etymology

seeblaspheme

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined atsense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use ofblasphemy was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

blasphemous

blasphemy

blast

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Blasphemy.”Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blasphemy. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

blasphemy

noun

blas·phe·myˈblas-fə-mē How to pronounce blasphemy (audio)

plural blasphemies

:great disrespect shown to God or to sacred persons or things

blasphemous

-məs

adjective

blasphemouslyadverb

blasphemousnessnoun

Legal Definition

blasphemy

noun

blas·phe·myˈblas-fə-mē How to pronounce blasphemy (audio)

plural blasphemies

:the crime of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or a religion and its doctrines and writings and especially God as perceived by Christianity and Christian doctrines and writings

Note: In many states, blasphemy statutes have been repealed as contrary to the First Amendment.