Words / C2

BLASF-uh-mee/ˈblæsfəmi/

Blasphemy is speech or action showing irreverence towards something treated as sacred: accused of blasphemy, a blasphemy against the rule. Odious (already in the dictionary) is hateful; facetious (already in the dictionary) is joking at the wrong time, a cousin of tone not of the sacred. A drill is not a decorative rite.

Meaning

Speech or action showing irreverence towards something treated as sacred.

Examples

• “Calling the fire drill “ceremonial” is blasphemy against the protocol, not wit.”
• “Odious is hateful (already in C2). Facetious is ill-timed joking (already in C2). A shibboleth is an in-group test (already in C2). Wit after a dated drill can be exact. Wit instead of a named warden is a hole. Keep the door clear; then the joke.”

Good to know

Irreverence towards the sacred. Everyday: irreverence / profanity. Close: facetious (wrong-time joking — already in C2). Contrast: shibboleth (an in-group test — already in C2). A drill is not décor.

Near in meaning

irreverence, sacrilege, profanity, desecration

New