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 notesIn plain EnglishDeeply disrespectful of something sacred.
Common pairings
sacrilegious act
consider it sacrilegious
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more sacrilegious
- Superlative
- most sacrilegious
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He called it _____ to sell relics from the old church.
Etymology
From Latin sacrilegus, related to sacer ("sacred") and legere ("to gather/steal").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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").
