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Impure vs Profane - What's the difference?

impure | profane |

As adjectives the difference between impure and profane

is that impure is not pure while profane is unclean; ritually impure; unholy, desecrating a holy place or thing.

As verbs the difference between impure and profane

is that impure is to defile; to pollute while profane is to violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the Scriptures, or the ordinance of God.

As a noun profane is

a person or thing that is profane.

impure

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Not pure
  • The impure gemstone was not good enough to be made into a necklace, so it was thrown out.
  • Defiled by sin or guilt; unholy; unhallowed
  • Unchaste; lewd; unclean or obscene
  • He was thinking impure thoughts.
  • (Judaism) Not virgin, having previously had sexual intercourse
  • * 2012 , Frederick Ramsay, The Eighth Veil: A Jerusalem Mystery
  • “No one would marry her if she was impure''', don't you see?” “'''Impure'''? Surely if a woman is forcibly deprived of her virginity, she can't be thought of as '''impure .”

    Synonyms

    * imperfect, tainted

    Antonyms

    * pure

    Verb

    (impur)
  • (obsolete) to defile; to pollute
  • References

    * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    profane

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Unclean; ritually impure; unholy, desecrating a holy place or thing.
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
  • Nothing is profane that serveth to holy things.
  • Not sacred or holy, unconsecrated; relating to non-religious matters, secular.
  • * I. Disraeli
  • profane authors
  • * Gibbon
  • The profane wreath was suspended before the shrine.
  • Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; blasphemous, impious. Hence, specifically; Irreverent in language; taking the name of God in vain; given to swearing; blasphemous; as, a profane person, word, oath, or tongue.
  • a profane person, word, oath, or tongue
  • * Bible, 1 Timothy 1:9
  • Synonyms

    * (obscene) vulgar, inappropriate, obscene, debased, uncouth, offensive, ignoble, mean, lewd * secular * temporal * worldly * unsanctified * unhallowed * unholy * irreligious * irreverent * ungodly * wicked * godless * impious

    Antonyms

    * holy * sacred

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person or thing that is profane.
  • * 1796 , Matthew Lewis, The Monk , Folio Society 1985, p. 244:
  • The nuns were employed in religious duties established in honour of St Clare, and to which no profane was ever admitted.
  • (freemasonry) A person not a Mason.
  • Verb

    (profan)
  • To violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the Scriptures, or the ordinance of God.
  • * 1851 ,
  • With one mind, their intent eyes all fastened upon the old man’s knife, as he carved the chief dish before him. I do not suppose that for the world they would have profaned that moment with the slightest observation, even upon so neutral a topic as the weather.
  • To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile.
  • Antonyms

    * consecrate * sanctify