IRREVERENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does irreverent mean? 

• IRREVERENT (adjective)
  The adjective IRREVERENT has 3 senses:

1. showing lack of due respect or veneration

2. characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality

3. not revering god

  Familiarity information: IRREVERENT used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IRREVERENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Showing lack of due respect or veneration

Context example:

noisy irreverent tourists

Similar:

blasphemous; profane; sacrilegious (grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred)

aweless; awless; disrespectful (neither feeling nor showing respect)

Also:

disrespectful (exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous)

Antonym:

reverent (feeling or showing profound respect or veneration)

Derivation:

irreverence (a disrespectful act)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality

Synonyms:

impertinent; irreverent; pert; saucy

Context example:

a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner

Similar:

spirited (displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not revering god

Synonyms:

godless; irreverent

Similar:

impious (lacking piety or reverence for a god)

Derivation:

irreverence (an irreverent mental attitude)

 Context examples 

"They carried him into my house," appended Jordan, "because we lived just two doors from the church. And he stayed three weeks, until Daddy told him he had to get out. The day after he left Daddy died." After a moment she added as if she might have sounded irreverent, "There wasn't any connection."

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)