profane
gb/pɹoʊfˈeɪn/ us/pɹoʊfˈeɪn/
C1
Inglês
~ 8200
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
C1
property
1
showing disrespect for religion
Not showing respect for God, religion, or holy things.
Padrão de uso:
[someone]/[something] is profane; profane [behavior]/[attitude]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse 'profane' with 'profound' because they look similar. 'Profane' is about disrespect for what is holy; 'profound' means deep or very great.
Sinónimos
irreverent (Suggests a lack of proper respect, but can be milder and sometimes playful, not always religious.)
|
blasphemous (Stronger and more emotional; emphasizes offensive speech or actions about God or religion.)
Antónimos
reverent (Shows deep respect and seriousness toward something sacred, the opposite attitude of profane.)
|
sacred (Describes something treated as holy and worthy of respect, which profane things are not.)
Colocações
profane behavior
|profane attitude
|profane treatment
|profane use of sacred symbols
|deeply profane
|profoundly profane
Temas
religion
|values
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Many people found the artist’s use of religious symbols in the advertisement deeply profane.
- The tourists were warned not to engage in any profane behavior inside the temple.
- He considered it profane to use the cemetery as a place for loud parties.
- Some viewers complained that the movie’s jokes about faith were profane and offensive.
- The law protects holy sites from profane acts of vandalism.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- They thought his comments about the church were profane.
- It is profane to write on the walls of a holy place.
- She hates profane jokes about religion.
- The guide asked visitors not to do anything profane in the shrine.
adjective
C1
property
2
containing obscene or swear words
Using very rude or dirty words, especially swear words.
Padrão de uso:
profane [language]/[jokes]/[lyrics]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes think 'profane' always refers to religion. In modern use, especially before 'language' or 'jokes', it often just means full of swear words or very rude, not necessarily religious.
Sinónimos
obscene (Focuses more on sexual content or extreme offensiveness, not always about swear words only.)
|
vulgar (Emphasizes rudeness and lack of refinement in language or behavior, sometimes broader than just swearing.)
Antónimos
polite (Describes language that is socially acceptable and respectful, unlike profane language.)
|
clean (Informal term for language without swear words or sexual content, the opposite of profane language.)
Colocações
profane language
|profane jokes
|profane lyrics
|profane words
|profane outburst
|filled with profane terms
Temas
language
|culture
|behavior
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The video was age-restricted because it contained profane language.
- He was asked to leave the meeting after a series of profane insults.
- Some radio stations will not play songs with profane lyrics.
- The comedian is known for his profane jokes and aggressive style.
- Parents complained about the profane words written on the school wall.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The movie has a lot of profane language.
- She does not like songs with profane words.
- He shouted profane insults at the driver.
- Teachers told the students not to use profane jokes in class.
adjective
formal
C2
property
3
nonreligious or secular, not sacred
Not about religion or holy things; about normal, everyday life.
Padrão de uso:
profane [music]/[art]/[literature]/[world]
Erro comum:
Learners often do not know this formal sense and may wrongly think 'profane music' always means music with swear words. In academic or religious contexts, it can simply mean 'secular, not religious'.
Sinónimos
secular (Standard term in modern English for nonreligious matters; usually clearer and more common than 'profane' in this sense.)
|
nonreligious (Plain, descriptive term; less formal and more transparent than 'profane'.)
Antónimos
sacred (Describes things set apart for religion or worship, the direct contrast with profane in religious studies.)
|
religious (General opposite: connected with religion, beliefs, or worship, unlike profane activities.)
Colocações
profane world
|profane music
|profane art
|profane literature
|sacred and profane
|profane realm
Temas
religion
|culture
|society
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The book explores the tension between the sacred and the profane in modern society.
- In that culture, music is clearly divided into sacred and profane categories.
- The museum contains both religious icons and profane art from the same period.
- He decided to leave religious life and return to the profane world.
- Scholars often contrast profane literature with texts used for worship.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Some songs are for church, and some are for profane use.
- The city is full of both sacred and profane buildings.
- She studies both religious and profane art.
- They moved from a religious school to a more profane, secular school.
Verbo
formal
C2
action
4
treat something sacred irreverently
To use or handle a holy place or thing in a way that does not show respect.
Padrão de uso:
to profane [a place]/[an object]/[a ritual]
Erro comum:
Learners may try to use 'profane' as a verb with the meaning 'to swear' (e.g., *he profaned a lot*). In this verb form it is mainly used about treating holy places or things without respect, not about simply using bad words.
Sinónimos
desecrate (The most direct and common verb for damaging or disrespecting something sacred; often implies physical damage.)
|
violate (Broader; can refer to breaking laws or rules, but when used with sacred things it overlaps with 'profane'.)
Antónimos
consecrate (Means to make something holy or dedicate it to a sacred purpose, the opposite process of profaning it.)
|
honor (General verb for showing respect, which is the opposite attitude to profaning something sacred.)
Colocações
profane a temple
|profane a grave
|profane holy ground
|profane a ritual
|profane a sacred site
|profane the memory of [someone]
Temas
religion
|behavior
|law
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The vandals were accused of profaning the church by spraying graffiti on its walls.
- To profit from sacred relics in that way is to profane them.
- They argued that building a nightclub on the site would profane the memory of those who died there.
- The ritual was profaned by turning it into a drunken party.
- Local leaders said the new road would profane land their community considers holy.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The men were punished for profaning the temple.
- Many people felt that the movie profaned a holy story.
- He did not want to profane the grave with loud music.
- They said the project would profane their sacred land.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
profane
IPA
GB/pɹoʊfˈeɪn/
US/pɹoʊfˈeɪn/
Sílabas e acento
pro - fane (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fane)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: profane
Verb
- Base: profane
- 3rd Person Singular: profanes
- Present Participle: profaning
- Past: profaned
Família de palavras
Forms
profanes
verb
profaning
verb
profaned
verb
Core family
profanity
noun
Related words
profanely
adverb
Advanced or less common
profanation
noun
Expressões
profane act
1/pɹoʊfˈeɪn ˈækt/
fixed phrase
formal
disrespectful action toward sacred things
An action that does not show respect for a holy place, object, or idea.
Exemplos
- The court ruled that painting over the shrine was a profane act.
- Many people saw the party in the old church as a profane act.
profane jokes
1/pɹoʊfˈeɪn d͡ʒˈoʊks/
fixed phrase
jokes with rude or offensive content
Jokes that use rude words or talk about sex, religion, or other sensitive topics in a very disrespectful way.
Exemplos
- Some people enjoy his profane jokes, but others find them disgusting.
- She thought his profane jokes were not suitable for a work event.
profane language
1/pɹoʊfˈeɪn lˈæŋɡwɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
language with swear words or obscenity
Words and sentences that include very rude or dirty words, especially swear words.
Exemplos
- The game received a higher age rating because of its profane language.
- Please avoid using profane language while you are at work.
profane words
1/pɹoʊfˈeɪn wˈɚdz/
fixed phrase
swear words or obscene terms
Rude or dirty words that many people find offensive.
Exemplos
- The teacher wrote a report after hearing several students shout profane words in the hallway.
- He tried to stop using profane words in front of his children.