English adjective: profane | |||
1. | profane characterized by profanity or cursing | ||
Samples | Foul-mouthed and blasphemous. Blue language. Profane words. | ||
Synonyms | blasphemous, blue | ||
Similar | dirty | ||
Antonyms | unobjectionable, clean | ||
2. | profane not concerned with or devoted to religion | ||
Samples | Sacred and profane music. Secular drama. Secular architecture. Children being brought up in an entirely profane environment. | ||
Synonyms | secular | ||
Similar | laic, lay, profanatory, secular | ||
See also | earthly, impious, secular, temporal, worldly | ||
Antonyms | sacred | ||
3. | profane not holy because unconsecrated or impure or defiled | ||
Synonyms | unconsecrated, unsanctified | ||
Similar | unhallowed, unholy | ||
Antonyms | holy | ||
4. | profane grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred | ||
Samples | Blasphemous rites of a witches' Sabbath. Profane utterances against the Church. It is sacrilegious to enter with shoes on. | ||
Synonyms | blasphemous, sacrilegious | ||
Similar | irreverent | ||
Antonyms | reverent | ||
English verb: profane | |||
1. | profane (social) corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality | ||
Samples | Debauch the young people with wine and women. Socrates was accused of corrupting young men. Do school counselors subvert young children?. Corrupt the morals. | ||
Synonyms | corrupt, debase, debauch, demoralise, demoralize, deprave, misdirect, pervert, subvert, vitiate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | bastardise, bastardize, carnalise, carnalize, infect, lead astray, lead off, poison, sensualise, sensualize, suborn | ||
2. | profane (social) violate the sacred character of a place or language | ||
Samples | Desecrate a cemetery. Violate the sanctity of the church. Profane the name of God. | ||
Synonyms | desecrate, outrage, violate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | assail, assault, attack, set on | ||