IMPIOUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does impious mean? 

• IMPIOUS (adjective)
  The adjective IMPIOUS has 2 senses:

1. lacking piety or reverence for a god

2. lacking due respect or dutifulness

  Familiarity information: IMPIOUS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMPIOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking piety or reverence for a god

Similar:

godless; irreverent (not revering god)

Also:

irreligious (hostile or indifferent to religion)

profane; secular (not concerned with or devoted to religion)

wicked (morally bad in principle or practice)

Attribute:

piety; piousness (righteousness by virtue of being pious)

Antonym:

pious (having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity)

Derivation:

impiousness (unrighteousness by virtue of lacking respect for a god)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking due respect or dutifulness

Synonyms:

impious; undutiful

Context example:

an undutiful son

Similar:

disrespectful (exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous)

Derivation:

impiousness (unrighteousness by virtue of lacking respect for a god)

 Context examples 

To pluck the mask from the face of the Pharisee, is not to lift an impious hand to the Crown of Thorns.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“But I forgive you, Mr. Copperfield,” said Uriah, making his forgiving nature the subject of a most impious and awful parallel, which I shall not record.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)