profane

[pruh-feyn, proh-]

adjective

1. characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.

   Synonyms: ungodly, impious, sacrilegious, blasphemous
   Antonyms: sacred

2. not devoted to holy or religious purposes; unconsecrated; secular (sacred ).

   Synonyms: temporal
   Antonyms: spiritual

3. unholy; heathen; pagan.

   profane rites.

   Synonyms: unhallowed
   Antonyms: holy

4. not initiated into religious rites or mysteries, as persons.

5. common or vulgar.

   Synonyms: base, mean, low

verb (used with object)

profaned, profaning 

1. to misuse (anything that should be held in reverence or respect); employ basely or unworthily; defile; debase.

2. to treat (anything sacred) with irreverence or contempt; violate the sanctity of.

   to profane a shrine.

   Synonyms: desecrate

profane

/ ˌprɒfəˈneɪʃən, -trɪ, prəˈfænətərɪ, prəˈfeɪn /

adjective

1. having or indicating contempt, irreverence, or disrespect for a divinity or something sacred

2. not designed or used for religious purposes; secular

3. not initiated into the inner mysteries or sacred rites

4. vulgar, coarse, or blasphemous

   profane language

verb

1. to treat or use (something sacred) with irreverence

2. to put to an unworthy or improper use

Other Word Forms

• profanely adverb
• profaneness noun
• profaner noun
• half-profane adjective
• nonprofane adjective
• nonprofanely adverb
• nonprofaneness noun
• semiprofane adjective
• semiprofanely adverb
• semiprofaneness noun
• unprofane adjective
• unprofanely adverb
• unprofaneness noun
• unprofaned adjective
• profanatory adjective
• profanation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of profane¹

1350–1400; (adj.) < Latin profānus literally, before (outside of ) the temple; replacing Middle English prophane < Medieval Latin prophānus desecrated ( pro- ¹, fane ); (v.) < Latin profānāre, derivative of profānus; replacing Middle English prophanen < Medieval Latin prophānāre to desecrate

Word History and Origins

Origin of profane¹

C15: from Latin profānus outside the temple, from _pro- ¹ + fānum temple

Example Sentences

Anyone writing critically these days about democracy is likely to be perceived as attacking motherhood or profaning the Holy Spirit.

From Salon

Audacious, profane marketing executive who views herself, quite rightly, as the most creative person in the room.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, they typically reposition themselves as the immovable axis of correct values, and denounce their former ideological fellow travelers as heretics who profaned true conservatism.

From Salon

And it prohibits posts that are “obscene, defamatory, profane, libelous, threatening, harassing, abusive or hateful to another person or entity.”

From Salon

She included photos of herself with a black eye and alleged Phypers regularly called her profane and demeaning names and periodically threatened to kill her or himself.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abusive 
• blasphemous 
• coarse 
• indecent 
• irreverent 
• nasty 
• obscene 
• sacrilegious 
• vulgar