sacrilege
noun
Did you know?
Why is sacrilegious not spelled sacreligious?
Sacrilegious is often used in reference to religion, or to religious things, so it is easy to see why people might be confused by its spelling. However, sacrilegious and religious are not from the same roots. Religious comes from the Latin word religio (“reverence, religion”), whereas sacrilegious and the related noun sacrilege come from Latin roots meaning “sacred” (sacr-) and “to steal” (legere).
The earliest sense of sacrilege, in use since the beginning of the 14th century, was concerned with the theft, misuse, or desecration of sacred or holy things. It still is used in this sense quite often, but has also taken on a broader meaning, in which it refers to irreverence to a person, place, or thing which may or may not have religious significance.
Synonyms
Examples of sacrilege in a Sentence
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024
However, that didn’t stop right-wing figures around the world, including Donald Trump, from claiming that the performance amounted to sacrilege, leading to widespread harassment against Jolly, as well as some of the performers involved.
—James Factora, Them, 29 Oct. 2024
On a warm March day—the kind that makes being indoors feel sacrilege—we were told to pack up for at least two weeks away and leave campus as soon as possible.
—Grace McCarty, SELF, 9 Oct. 2024
But there has been fierce resistance along the way, particularly from some fellow surfers who think the whole idea of turning an intimate, almost zen-like communion with nature into a competition is sacrilege.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sacrilege 
Dictionary Entries Near sacrilege
Cite this Entry
“Sacrilege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sacrilege. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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sacrilege
noun
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