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profane

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verb

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as in to misuse
to put to a bad or improper use profaned his considerable acting talents by appearing in some wretched movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of profane
Adjective
The sacred and the profane, religious devotion and sensuality, simmering passion shrouded in a veil of composure and silence —these dramatic contrasts have shaped their repertoire from the outset, nearly 40 years ago. Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2025 Millions of fanboys went nuts over Reynolds’ outrageously profane Merc With a Mouth. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
Her husband, the exuberant and often profane former Dodgers manager who won two World Series championships, died Jan. 7 at 93. Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2021 The narrative is that of a leader who has experienced vilification at the hands of enemies who are both secular (and thus profane) and intensely demonic. Federico Finchelstein, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2020 See All Example Sentences for profane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profane
Adjective
  • From there on out, the film takes a couple of major swings in the realm of its timeline — a strange temporal unfurling — as well as the seeming motives behind A.J. and Isaac’s arrival, and Camille’s readiness to host them alongside a friend who clearly needs some alone time.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Scientists had long thought that deciphering those qualities — collectively known as prosody — happened in the superior temporal gyrus, an area of the brain associated with speech perception.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The truth about our involvement in Ukraine to oppose Russia is obscene.
    Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2025
  • The amount of cash being tossed around is obscene, and that’s part of what makes the show guiltily watchable.
    James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • It has been corrupted over time into something like a generalized celebration of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and the other 43 highly varied men who preceded them in holding the nation’s highest office.
    The Editors, National Review, 17 Feb. 2025
  • If green ever corrupted itself with red, both would end up the same brown mud.
    Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Their litigations essentially mirrored the same set of issues: Whether the ACC misused media rights, the appropriate penalty or fee (or both) a school should face for exiting the ACC and compliance requirements for member schools.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Without human review, workers’ leave data could be misused, potentially influencing promotions, job security, or disciplinary actions.
    Christine Michel Carter, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Social-media companies that violate the law could face penalties up to $50,000 per violation.
    Dara Kam, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Revisiting cases against crypto firms — especially those which violated the SEC's rules but were not alleged to have defrauded investors — has been broadly anticipated.
    Hannah Lang, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This expansion of cooperation in Israel’s energy security with Azerbaijan – a secular state with a Muslim Shi’a majority, builds on over thirty years of cordial relations and joint projects in defense, energy, culture, air transportation, and foreign policy.
    Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The book boldly subverts the standard view of Pakistani politics as a contest of dueling binaries, religious and secular, military and civilian.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • However, these arrangements were not mere shakedowns; they were anchored in strategic diplomacy and geopolitical calculus, rather than vulgar profiteering.
    Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Her Facebook and email had been flooded with vulgar, inflammatory responses.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The conspiratorial right aims to degrade the state’s ability to collect taxes, conduct diplomacy, prosecute violations of civil rights, and otherwise carry out its duties.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
  • In sum, proper use of AI should be encouraged, as opposed to this case where the D grade appeared to degrade its use.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Profane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profane. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

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