irreverent
showing little or no respect
TRANSLATION
irreverent = respektlos, pietätlos --- How important is this English word? irreverent: 5,720,000 Google Hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Monty Python's film "Life Of Brian" is an IRREVERENT yet humorous satire about religion.
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He was asked to leave the meeting because of his irreverent behaviour towards the management team.
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He was asked to leave the meeting because of his irreverent behaviour towards the management team.
Did you
know?
irreverent
adjective
- Lacking the expected respect for official, important or holy things.
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
- Critical of what is generally accepted or respected.
(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000)
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WORD ORIGIN
Circa 1340. Borrowed from the Latin irreverens (disrespectful) and is formed from ir (not) and reverens (to be in awe or fear of something, to show respect).
The Catholic Church exhibited tremendous influence during the Middle Ages. Disrespectful or irreverent behaviour towards the church was not tolerated and often lead to excommunication, torture and even death.
But with the arrival of the modern era, attitudes have relaxed, meaning behaviour that may have been considered irreverent in the 1300s might merely be viewed as criticism today.
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SYNONYMS
blasphemous, contemptuous, impious, profane, sacrilegious
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IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
“Bob was trying to be funny during the company meeting today, but he sounded irreverent. I think he should apologise.”
adjective
- Lacking the expected respect for official, important or holy things.
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
- Critical of what is generally accepted or respected.
(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000)
---
WORD ORIGIN
Circa 1340. Borrowed from the Latin irreverens (disrespectful) and is formed from ir (not) and reverens (to be in awe or fear of something, to show respect).
The Catholic Church exhibited tremendous influence during the Middle Ages. Disrespectful or irreverent behaviour towards the church was not tolerated and often lead to excommunication, torture and even death.
But with the arrival of the modern era, attitudes have relaxed, meaning behaviour that may have been considered irreverent in the 1300s might merely be viewed as criticism today.
---
SYNONYMS
blasphemous, contemptuous, impious, profane, sacrilegious
---
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
“Bob was trying to be funny during the company meeting today, but he sounded irreverent. I think he should apologise.”
