Library / English Dictionary

PROFANE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by profanity or cursing

Example:

profane words

Synonyms:

blasphemous; blue; profane

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

dirty ((of behavior or especially language) characterized by obscenity or indecency)

Derivation:

profaneness (unholiness by virtue of being profane)

profanity (vulgar or irreverent speech or action)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred

Example:

it is sacrilegious to enter with shoes on

Synonyms:

blasphemous; profane; sacrilegious

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

irreverent (showing lack of due respect or veneration)

Derivation:

profaneness (an attitude of irreverence or contempt for a divinity)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not holy because unconsecrated or impure or defiled

Synonyms:

profane; unconsecrated; unsanctified

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

unhallowed; unholy (not hallowed or consecrated)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Not concerned with or devoted to religion

Example:

children being brought up in an entirely profane environment

Synonyms:

profane; secular

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

laic; lay; secular (characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy)

profanatory (profaning or tending to desecrate)

Also:

earthly (of or belonging to or characteristic of this earth as distinguished from heaven)

impious (lacking piety or reverence for a god)

secular; temporal; worldly (characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world)

Antonym:

sacred (concerned with religion or religious purposes)

Derivation:

profaneness (an attitude of irreverence or contempt for a divinity)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Violate the sacred character of a place or language

Example:

profane the name of God

Synonyms:

desecrate; outrage; profane; violate

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "profane" is one way to...):

assail; assault; attack; set on (attack someone physically or emotionally)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

profanation (blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality

Example:

corrupt the morals

Synonyms:

corrupt; debase; debauch; demoralise; demoralize; deprave; misdirect; pervert; profane; subvert; vitiate

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "profane" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "profane"):

carnalise; carnalize; sensualise; sensualize (debase through carnal gratification)

infect (corrupt with ideas or an ideology)

lead astray; lead off (teach immoral behavior to)

poison (spoil as if by poison)

bastardise; bastardize (change something so that its value declines; for example, art forms)

suborn (incite to commit a crime or an evil deed)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

profanation (degradation of something worthy of respect; cheapening)

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