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adj

sacrilegious

sak-ruh-LIHJ-uhs

Sacrilegious (adj) means showing gross disrespect toward something regarded as sacred. Example: “He called it sacrilegious to sell relics from the old church.”

adj
1
Showing gross disrespect toward something regarded as sacred.
"He called it sacrilegious to sell relics from the old church."

How to use sacrilegious

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDeeply disrespectful of something sacred.

Common pairings
sacrilegious act consider it sacrilegious

Word forms

more sacrilegious comparative, most sacrilegious superlative

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He called it _____ to sell relics from the old church.

Etymology

From Latin sacrilegus, related to sacer ("sacred") and legere ("to gather/steal").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for sacrilegious

See all rhymes for sacrilegious →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sacrilegious” mean?

The word “sacrilegious” means showing gross disrespect toward something regarded as sacred. In plain terms, deeply disrespectful of something sacred.

How do you pronounce “sacrilegious”?

“Sacrilegious” is pronounced sak-ruh-LIHJ-uhs (/sæk.ɹəˈlɪd͡ʒ.əs/ in IPA).

How do you use “sacrilegious” in a sentence?

Here is “sacrilegious” used in a sentence: “He called it sacrilegious to sell relics from the old church.”

What part of speech is “sacrilegious”?

“Sacrilegious” is an adjective.

Where does the word “sacrilegious” come from?

The word “sacrilegious” comes from Latin. From Latin sacrilegus, related to sacer ("sacred") and legere ("to gather/steal").

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial