irreverent
/ɪəˈɹɛ.və.ɹənt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.82 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Lacking respect; not having or not showing respect for or seriousness towards something that is usually treated with respect; going against conventional precepts.
Example Sentences
- "an irreverent new work"
- "an irreverent examination of reviewing"
- "To receive Communion, open the mouth, letting the tongue touch the inner side of the lip, and having received the Sacred Particle on the tongue, swallow it as soon as you can, to avoid all irreverent touching of the Sacred Host with the teeth or lips."
- "Beyond the hut a clump of myalls loomed spectral and wraith-like, and round them a gang of crows cawed noisily, irreverent of the great silence."
Etymology
From Latin irreverēns. By surface analysis, ir- + reverent.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: irreverēns
Inflected Forms
more irreverent (comparative)
most irreverent (superlative)