profanation

CIDE DICTIONARY

profanation, n. [L. profanatio: cf. F. profanation. See Profane, v. t.].

•  The act of violating sacred things, or of treating them with contempt or irreverence; irreverent or too familiar treatment or use of what is sacred; desecration; as, the profanation of the Sabbath; the profanation of a sanctuary; the profanation of the name of God.  [1913 Webster]
•  The act of treating with abuse or disrespect, or with undue publicity, or lack of delicacy.  [1913 Webster]

  "'T were profanation of our joys
  To tell the laity our love."  [1913 Webster]

THESAURUS

profanation

abomination, abuse, abuse of office, atrocity, befoulment, blasphemousness, blasphemy, conversion, corrupt administration, debasement, defalcation, defilement, desecration, disgrace, diversion, embezzlement, fouling, ignominy, impiety, infamy, maladministration, malfeasance, malpractice, malversation, misapplication, misappropriation, misconduct, misemployment, misfeasance, mishandling, mismanagement, misusage, misuse, peculation, perversion, pilfering, pity, pollution, poor stewardship, profaneness, profanity, prostitution, sacrilege, sacrilegiousness, scandal, shame, terrible thing, violation

ROGET THESAURUS

profanation

Misuse

N misuse, misusage, misemployment, misapplication, misappropriation, abuse, profanation, prostitution, desecration, waste, misused, ludere cum sacris.

Impiety

N impiety, sin, irreverence, profaneness, profanity, profanation, blasphemy, desecration, sacrilege, scoffing, hypocrisy, pietism, cant, pious fraud, lip devotion, lip service, lip reverence, misdevotion, formalism, austerity, sanctimony, sanctimoniousness, pharisaism, precisianism, sabbatism, sabbatarianism, odium theologicum, sacerdotalism, bigotry blue laws, hardening, backsliding, declension, perversion, reprobation, sinner, scoffer, blasphemer, sacrilegist, sabbath breaker, worldling, hypocrite, Tartufe, Mawworm, bigot, saint, Pharisee, sabbatarian, formalist, methodist, puritan, pietist, precisian, religionist, devotee, ranter, fanatic, juramentado, the wicked, the evil, the unjust, the reprobate, sons of men, sons of Belial, the wicked one, children of darkness, impious, irreligious, desecrating, profane, irreverent, sacrilegious, blasphemous, un-hallowed, un-sanctified, un-regenerate, hardened, perverted, reprobate, hypocritical, canting, pietistical, sanctimonious, unctuous, pharisaical, overrighteous, righteous over much, bigoted, fanatical, priest-ridden, under the mask of religion, under the cloak of religion, under the pretense of religion, under the form of religion, under the guise of religion, giovane santo diavolo vecchio.