Choose the most suitable one-word substitution for the following.
An act of disrespect towards any religious custom or belief.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Blasphemy
Explanation
The word "blasphemy" means the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously or showing great disrespect toward God, sacred things, or religious customs and beliefs. It comes from Greek roots meaning to speak ill of or injure someone's reputation, specifically applied to things held holy.
The other choices have entirely different meanings. Obeisance means a movement of the body, such as a bow, expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy. Alchemy is a medieval chemical philosophy aiming to convert base metals into gold or find a universal elixir. Syllogism is a form of logical deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.
Key Points
When studying root words, associate the root pheme (meaning to speak) with words about communication. While prophecy means to speak forward, blasphemy explicitly connects to speaking or acting harmfully against sacred institutions.