What does irreverent mean?
Word: Irreverent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Irreverent means not showing the respect that people usually expect, often in a light-hearted way.
Synonyms: disrespectful
Antonyms: respectful
How do you spell irreverent?
Syllables: ir - rev - er - ent
Tricky part: Say the last syllable lightly and it could hold either vowel, so many students write irreverant.
Watch out for: irreverant, ireverent, irreverrent
Memory tip: Think of someone joking about the rent: the word finishes in rent, never rant.
Irreverent in a sentence
Example 1: Rohan's irreverent speech at the farewell party made the teachers laugh.
Example 2: The comedian has an irreverent way of talking about exam season.
Example 3: Some parents felt that the sketch was a little too irreverent for prize day.
Fun Fact
Although the word is about a lack of respect, film and book reviewers often use it as praise for a lively, daring comedy.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
irr_v_rent
a) e, e
b) e, a
c) i, e
d) a, e
Show answer
a) e, e. Both gaps take the same vowel: the clear e of vet, then a weak e after it.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct word:
The errtvnieer poem about the school's strict bell timings made even the headmistress smile.
a) irreverent
b) irregular
c) irrelevant
d) irreversible
Show answer
a) irreverent. Three r's and three e's sit in the jumble, and no other option holds both sets.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word irreverent as used in the sentence:
The student magazine's irreverent column on the staff cricket match had the whole school laughing.
a) mocking
b) flippant
c) cheeky
d) deferential
Show answer
d) deferential. Deferential means politely humble, the reverse of the column's tone.
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the prefix ir to form its opposite. Choose it.
ir
a) legible
b) possible
c) mature
d) reverent
Show answer
d) reverent. Possible and mature take im, and legible takes il.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A review calls a film irreverent. What should the audience expect?
a) a formal tribute to a great leader
b) a slow and solemn history of the town
c) jokes about things usually taken seriously
d) careful lessons on good table manners
Show answer
c) jokes about things usually taken seriously
2. Which remark is the most irreverent?
a) Our founder's statue was unveiled in 1962.
b) The statue of our founder stands near the gate.
c) We are grateful to our founder for this hall.
d) Our grand founder's statue could do with a haircut.
Show answer
d) Our grand founder's statue could do with a haircut.
