Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for worldly

worldly

[ wurld-lee ]

adjective

, world·li·er, world·li·est.
  1. of or relating to this world as contrasted with heaven, spiritual life, etc.; earthly; mundane.

    Synonyms: temporal

    Antonyms: spiritual

  2. experienced; knowing; sophisticated:

    the benefits of his worldly wisdom.

    Synonyms: cosmopolitan, urbane

  3. devoted to, directed toward, or connected with the affairs, interests, or pleasures of this world.
  4. of or relating to the people or laity; secular; neither ecclesiastical nor religious.
  5. Obsolete. of, relating to, or existing on earth.


adverb

  1. in a worldly manner (archaic except in combination):

    worldly-wise; worldly-minded.

worldly

/ ˈwɜːldlɪ /

adjective

  1. not spiritual; mundane or temporal
  2. Alsoworldly-minded absorbed in or concerned with material things or matters that are immediately relevant
  3. Alsoworldly-wise versed in the ways of the world; sophisticated
  4. archaic.
    existing on or relating to the earth
  5. obsolete.
    secular; lay


adverb

  1. archaic.
    in a worldly manner

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈworldliness, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • worldli·ness noun
  • pre·worldli·ness noun
  • pre·worldly adjective
  • super·worldli·ness noun
  • super·worldly adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of worldly1

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English wor(u)ldlīc. See world, -ly

Discover More

Synonym Study

See earthly.

Discover More

Example Sentences

When he emerged from the Zen monastery on Mount Baldy, his enlightenment was followed with an all too worldly disaster.

Brienne of Tarth is back on the road—a far more worldly and intimidating figure than her hapless male squire, Podrick Payne.

But on the relative plane, Zen is this-worldly and does not deny ethics, or ontology for that matter.

Actually, enlightened Zen monks are often worldly, engaged, and sexually voracious.

Fairylands is a name that conjures up a dreamy, other-worldly place, somewhere to escape the cares of a busy life.

They will reach you by the hands of Mr. Mackenzie, a worldly-minded Scotch merchant, but honest as to earthly things.

To ask God for His love, or for His grace, or for any worldly benefit seems to me unreasonable.

I have for all worldly goods, two hundred and fifty dollars, with which I shall honorably pay my hotel bill.

They could talk to one another both on worldly and spiritual matters, but there was no real familiarity between them.

His very genius and splendor pails upon one, even taking the pictures as worldly pictures.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


worldlingworldly-minded