1 irreverent | Definition of irreverent

irreverent

adjective
ir·​rev·​er·​ent | \ i-ˈrev-rənt How to pronounce irreverent (audio) , ˌi(r)-, -ˈre-və-; -ˈre-vərnt\

Definition of irreverent

: lacking proper respect or seriousness also : satiric

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Other Words from irreverent

irreverently adverb

Synonyms & Antonyms for irreverent

Synonyms

blasphemous, impious, profane, sacrilegious

Antonyms

pious, reverent

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Examples of irreverent in a Sentence

He has a delightfully irreverent sense of humor. irreverent behavior during church services

Recent Examples on the Web

That mug, like everything else in Rian Johnson's ingeniously plotted, tremendously entertaining and deviously irreverent crowd-pleaser, will figure significantly in a later payoff. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Knives Out': Film Review | TIFF 2019," 8 Sep. 2019 Slack first won over startups (and newsrooms) with a simple, powerful chat interface that ditched the beige tones of traditional enterprise software for bright colors, irreverent messaging, and deep customization. Michael J. Coren, Quartz, "Slack’s first public earnings are a speed bump on its way to owning enterprise," 5 Sep. 2019 This month, Rizzoli is publishing Musings on Fashion and Style: Museo de la Moda, an irreverent scrapbook of sorts that Moss edited and that places the fashion museum’s encyclopedic holdings—where John Lennon’s Sgt. Alison S. Cohn, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kate Moss Shares Her Vintage Style Tips," 4 Sep. 2019 Playful, funny, irreverent, hundreds of them dot the landscape thanks to a street artist who goes by name Clet, a Frenchman who saw an opportunity to do something different in a place imbued in history. CBS News, "This Week: "A Sunday Morning in Florence" (August 18)," 15 Aug. 2019 Schroeder had some great ideas about introducing your kids to irreverent comics who will fuel a kid’s need for rebellion without stoking the fires of hate. Petula Dvorak, The Denver Post, "White supremacists are recruiting white teens online. Parents must stop them.," 18 Aug. 2019 Over the course of eight seasons, the dramedy drew attention not only for its irreverent tone and inventive plots but also for its reports of bitter behind-the-scenes battles among its female stars. Los Angeles Times, "‘Desperate Housewives’ gossip created ‘problems’ on set, but creator Marc Cherry says he’s better for it," 14 Aug. 2019 And behind the irreverent strutting, vogueing and steely catwalk attitude is the show’s runway choreographer, Twiggy Pucci Garçon. Kish Lal, Billboard, "'Pose' Choreographer Twiggy Pucci Garçon Talks the Show's Impact on Modern Ballroom Culture," 23 July 2019 In the process, Reynolds made the smart move of infusing Aviation Gin’s public image with his sly and irreverent sense of humor. Alejandra Salazar, refinery29.com, "Ryan Reynolds Perfected The Art Of #SponCon With This Viral Share," 24 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'irreverent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of irreverent

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for irreverent

Middle English, from Latin irreverent-, irreverens, from in- + reverent-, reverens reverent

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More Definitions for irreverent

irreverent

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of irreverent

: having or showing a lack of respect for someone or something that is usually treated with respect : treating someone or something in a way that is not serious or respectful

irreverent

adjective
ir·​rev·​er·​ent | \ i-ˈre-və-rənt How to pronounce irreverent (audio) \

Kids Definition of irreverent

: not respectful “It seems irreverent, like running in a church.”— Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

Other Words from irreverent

irreverently adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on irreverent

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Spanish Central: Translation of irreverent

Nglish: Translation of irreverent for Spanish Speakers