Synonyms

irreverent

American

[ih-rev-er-uhnt] / ɪˈrɛv ər ənt /

adjective

not reverent; manifesting or characterized by irreverence; deficient in veneration or respect.

an irreverent reply.

Synonyms:

profane, impious, irreligious

Other Word Forms

irreverently adverb

Etymology

Origin of irreverent

1485–95; < Latin irreverent- (stem of irreverēns ) disrespectful. See ir- ², reverent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

HBO Max’s “The Pitt” received a credit of $24.2 million, while “Stewie,” a spin-off of Seth MacFarlane’s irreverent adult cartoon “Family Guy,” was awarded $6.4 million.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

The irreverent news website had seemingly cracked the code for social-media virality, and would soon become one of the first digital-media startups to achieve unicorn status with a valuation of over $1 billion.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026

So abrasive are its words and affecting its tune that the agnostic and irreverent journalist H.L.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

And gone was the owner of the irreverent nickname "Fatty Lai": he had lost considerable weight.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

The names of places carry a charge of the people who named them, reverent or irreverent, descriptive, either poetic or disparaging.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023