Blasphemy is a noun referring to the act or offense of showing disrespect or irreverence toward something considered sacred, typically a religious belief or deity. It can also denote speech or conduct that profanes or insults what is held sacred. The term often carries strong moral or social condemnation and can be central to debates on free expression versus respect for beliefs.
"The comedian faced backlash for uttering blasphemy during the televised performance."
"Some communities consider jokes about sacred figures to be blasphemy and demand apologies."
"The book was criticized for blasphemy as it challenged core religious dogmas."
"He was accused of blasphemy after publicly doubting the holy tenets."
Blasphemy derives from the Late Latin blasphemia, from Greek blasphemia (blasphêmia), from blasphemeîn, meaning to insult or speak ill of the gods. The root blas-, meaning ‘damage’ or ‘injury,’ combined with pher- in the sense of ‘to declare or speak.’ The word entered English via ecclesiastical Latin in the medieval period, aligning with church-law terminology. Historically, blasphemy has been a charged legal and moral category, often tied to what is considered sacred. Over the centuries, the concept expanded from theology-centric offense to broader acts of irreverence in secular critiques, literature, and media. In many societies, blasphemy laws were used to suppress dissent or protect religious sensitivities, while modern liberal democracies tend to reserve such offenses to civil discourse rather than criminal penalties. First known use in English appears in the 16th century, with earlier roots in religious and philosophical debates about the sanctity of sacred doctrines and the right to speak critically about religious figures. The evolution reflects shifting boundaries between religious authority, freedom of expression, and social norms around reverence, offense, and blame. The term remains contentious in multicultural contexts where multiple belief systems intersect with secular values.
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Words that rhyme with "Blasphemy"
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Blasphemy is pronounced /ˈblæs.fə.mi/ in US English and /ˈblæs.fə.mi/ in UK English; the Australian variant is essentially the same: /ˈblæs.fə.mi/. The primary stress is on the first syllable BLAS-, followed by a lighter -phe- as /fə/ and ending with -my /mi/. Open your lips to a short /æ/ in the first syllable, then relax into a schwa-like /ə/ for the second, and finish with /mi/.
Common errors include pronouncing it as a three-syllable word with a strong /i/ at the end (blæ-spem-ee) and over-emphasizing the second syllable as /fə/ instead of a quick /fə/. Another frequent mistake is misplacing the vowel in the first syllable, using /blɑː/ or /blæɪ/ instead of /blæs/. Correct by maintaining a crisp /æ/ in the first syllable, a light /f/ between /s/ and /ə/, and a clean final /mi/.
Across US/UK/AU, the core /ˈblæs/ remains constant, but rhoticity subtly affects the following /fə/ segment. In most US speech, /ə/ can reduce more toward a schwa in connected speech, while UK and AU speakers often maintain /ə/ with a slightly fuller quality. The final /mi/ is typically a clear /mi/ in all, though Australian speech may gloss it with a slightly shorter vowel length in rapid speech. Overall, the main difference is vowel reduction and connected speech timing rather than a distinct consonant shift.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of consonants and the short, unstressed vowels: /blæs/ + /fə/ + /mi/. The middle /ə/ is a weak vowel that can be mispronounced as /i/ or /e/, and the final /mi/ can blend with preceding syllables in fluency. Additionally, the /f/ is between /s/ and /ə/, so you should avoid producing a voiced /v/ or nasalization. Focus on crisp /s/ and a clean /ə/ before the /mi/.
A unique question might be: Does the second syllable always sound like /fə/? In careful, careful speech the second syllable is /fə/ or /fə/ with a subtle schwa, but rapid or casual speech can glide toward /fɪ/ or even a reduced /fə/ with less vowel clarity. In practice, aim for /ˈblæs.fə.mi/ with a light, quick middle syllable; avoid a full /fɪ/ or /fæ/.
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