sacrilegious
UK: ˌsækrɪˈlɪdʒəs | US: ˌsækrɪˈlɪdʒəs
adj. involving or committing sacrilege (violation or misuse of what is sacred).
adj. grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred.
The word "sacrilegious" traces back to Latin sacrilegium, combining sacer (sacred) and legere (to gather or steal). Historically, it referred to stealing sacred objects from temples. Over time, it broadened to mean any disrespect toward sacred things. The morpheme sacri preserves the sacred context, while leg (from legere) implies wrongful taking. The suffix -ious turns it into an adjective, emphasizing the act’s blasphemous nature.
The vandalism of the ancient temple was deemed sacrilegious by the community.
His sacrilegious jokes offended the devout attendees.
Burning a holy book is considered sacrilegious in many religions.
The artist’s sacrilegious portrayal of deities sparked controversy.
Such sacrilegious behavior was punished severely in medieval times.