blasphemer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, literary, religious, academic
Quick answer
What does “blasphemer” mean?
A person who shows contempt or disrespect for God or sacred things.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who shows contempt or disrespect for God or sacred things.
A person who shows profound disrespect for a widely held belief, principle, or institution treated as sacred.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally applicable in both religious and secular/figurative contexts.
Connotations
Strong religious condemnation; in secular use, it suggests transgression against a deeply revered societal or cultural norm.
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation; higher frequency in religious discourse, historical writing, and literary criticism.
Grammar
How to Use “blasphemer” in a Sentence
[Noun] was branded a blasphemer for [action/statement].The blasphemer showed no remorse for [sacred thing].They accused him of being a blasphemer.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blasphemer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- To blaspheme is a serious offence in some communities.
- He was accused of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.
American English
- It is illegal to blaspheme in some states, though such laws are rarely enforced.
- The comedian was criticized for blaspheming religious icons.
adverb
British English
- He spoke blasphemously of the prophet.
- The statue was blasphemously defaced.
American English
- She wrote blasphemously about the founding fathers.
- The ritual was performed blasphemously, as a mockery.
adjective
British English
- His blasphemous remarks caused outrage.
- They tore down the blasphemous poster.
American English
- The film was banned for its blasphemous content.
- Her blasphemous views were not welcome in the congregation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; possible in figurative sense: 'He was considered a blasphemer for criticising the company's founding principles.'
Academic
Used in religious studies, history, literature, and sociology to describe historical or literary figures.
Everyday
Very rare; would be used only in discussions about religion or extreme disrespect for cherished ideals.
Technical
A specific legal/historical term in contexts discussing blasphemy laws.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blasphemer”
- Misspelling as 'blasphemist' or 'blashphemer'.
- Using it to mean simply a critic or skeptic without the element of profound, offensive disrespect for the sacred.
- Incorrect verb form: 'He blasphemed the church' is less common than 'He was a blasphemer against the church.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its core meaning relates to disrespect for God or the sacred. However, it is often used figuratively to describe someone showing extreme contempt for any deeply revered principle, institution, or person (e.g., 'a blasphemer against democracy').
A heretic believes in and promotes doctrines contrary to the official teachings of a religion but may do so reverently. A blasphemer directly shows contempt or insults the sacred itself through speech or action, often without necessarily proposing an alternative doctrine.
No, it is quite rare in everyday speech. It is mostly found in formal, historical, religious, or literary contexts. In news, it might appear in reports about countries with blasphemy laws.
No, 'blasphemer' is only a noun. The related verb is 'to blaspheme'. The person who does the action is the 'blasphemer'.
A person who shows contempt or disrespect for God or sacred things.
Blasphemer is usually formal, literary, religious, academic in register.
Blasphemer: in British English it is pronounced /blæsˈfiːmə/, and in American English it is pronounced /blæsˈfiːmər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be branded a blasphemer”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BLASPHEMER' sounds like 'blast' + 'fee' + 'mer' (as in 'murmur'). Imagine someone murmuring disrespectfully and then getting blasted for it, leading to a fee (punishment). This person is a blasphemer.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISRESPECT IS PHYSICAL DESECRATION. A blasphemer is seen as polluting or defiling the sacred.
Practice
Quiz
In a secular, figurative context, 'blasphemer' most likely describes someone who: