English Dictionary

IMPIOUS

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does impious mean? 

IMPIOUS (adjective)
  The adjective IMPIOUS has 2 senses:

1. lacking piety or reverence for a godplay

2. lacking due respect or dutifulnessplay

  Familiarity information: IMPIOUS used as an adjective is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


IMPIOUS (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking piety or reverence for a god

Similar:

godless; irreverent (not revering god)

Also:

irreligious (hostile or indifferent to religion)

profane; secular (not concerned with or devoted to religion)

wicked (morally bad in principle or practice)

Attribute:

piety; piousness (righteousness by virtue of being pious)

Antonym:

pious (having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity)

Derivation:

impiousness (unrighteousness by virtue of lacking respect for a god)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking due respect or dutifulness

Synonyms:

impious; undutiful

Context example:

an undutiful son

Similar:

disrespectful (exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous)

Derivation:

impiousness (unrighteousness by virtue of lacking respect for a god)


 Context examples 


To pluck the mask from the face of the Pharisee, is not to lift an impious hand to the Crown of Thorns.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“But I forgive you, Mr. Copperfield,” said Uriah, making his forgiving nature the subject of a most impious and awful parallel, which I shall not record.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Cider on beer, never fear; beer upon cider, makes a bad rider." (English proverb)

"Five fingers are brothers, not equals." (Afghanistan proverb)

"God helps those who help themselves." (Arabic proverb)

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." (Corsican proverb)



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