blaspheme
Speak against divinity
To blaspheme is to speak irreverently about God or sacred things—cursing, mocking, or showing contempt for what others hold holy.
The word carries weight in religious contexts where such speech is considered sinful or even criminal: He was accused of blaspheming against the Prophet.
Extended to secular use, blaspheme describes violating any deeply held belief: To question the founder's vision was to blaspheme.
Invoked harm through words
- profaneIrreverent toward the sacred
- swearVow or use profanity
- desecrateViolate what's sacred
- defileTo violate sanctity
denounce · renounce · apostatize · damn · imprecate · execrate · anathematize · sacrilege
Scornful imitation or fake
- scoffMock with disdain
- derideMock with contempt
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- satirizeMock through exaggeration
parody · lampoon · scorn · jeer · sneer · taunt · flout · profane
Not allowed
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- anathemaIntensely detested thing
- abominationLoathsome, detestable thing
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
apostasy · impiety · profanity · obscenity · transgression · violation · desecration · defilement
curse
Invoked harm through words
defile · denounce · renounce · apostatize · damn · imprecate · execrate · anathematize · sacrilege · heresy
mock
Scornful imitation or fake
satirize · parody · lampoon · scorn · jeer · sneer · taunt · flout · profane · desecrate
forbidden
Not allowed
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- anathemaIntensely detested thing
- abominationLoathsome, detestable thing
heresy · apostasy · impiety · profanity · obscenity · transgression · violation · desecration · defilement · outrage
curse
Invoked harm through words
inveigh · vituperate · execrate · imprecate · damn · abuse · defame · slander · vilify · malign
- worship verbspray, bless, anoint, baptize, consecrate
- blasphemy lawsProhibitions on religious insult
- blasphemy chargesFormal accusations of irreverence
blasphemy, blasphemous, blasphemer, blaspheming, blasphemed, blasphemers, blasphemes, blasphemously