MEANING
An act that violates or shows serious disrespect toward something held sacred.
Use it for
Religious transgression, contested sacred boundaries, moral accusation.Reveal the speaker's values through what they regard as an unforgivable violation.
Words that belong together
- commit sacrilege
- accused of sacrilege
- an act of sacrilege
On the page
Opening the tomb was considered sacrilege by the villagers.
She called selling the chapel sacrilege; he called it necessity.
The tribunal heard three accusations of sacrilege.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- sacrilege
Usage notes
Primary category: gothic. Depends on what a community regards as sacred; can be figurative or hyperbolic. Uncountable generally; plural sacrileges for distinct acts. Derived adjective sacrilegious.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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