godless

American  

[god-lis] / ˈgɒd lɪs /

adjective

1. having or acknowledging no god or deity; atheistic.

2. wicked; evil; sinful.

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godless British  

/ ˈɡɒdlɪs /

adjective

1. wicked or unprincipled

2. lacking a god

3. refusing to acknowledge God

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Other Word Forms

• godlessly
  adverb
• godlessness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of godless

First recorded in 1520–30; god + -less

Explanation

Someone who doesn't believe in any god is godless. Your religious grandmother might refer to your atheist uncle as godless. While the adjective godless literally means just "not revering a god," it's most often used by religious people or groups to criticize those who don't show the proper respect to God or religion, or those who are unbelievers. When a group is described as a "godless society," it's usually an observation of a perceived lack of morality or law, coming from the idea that people who believe in God are better, more moral citizens.

Example Sentences

She’s taken, perversely, with John the Baptist, imprisoned in a cistern and prophesying doom for the decadent, Godless heathens, Salome in particular.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Contemplating the genre's modern standard-bearers requires deep tribute to "Deadwood," of course, along with reminders of underappreciated achievements such as the 2017 series "Godless" or the 2019 east-meets-Western cult hit "Warrior."

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2022

Scott was impressed when I said that I watched Godless and I liked it.

From Slate • Nov. 17, 2020

Tara Isabella Burton, a contributing editor at The American Interest and a columnist at Religion News Service, is the author of the forthcoming “Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World.”

From New York Times • May 8, 2020

No—it was the terrible, Godless, unbelievable Things that scurried around in the smooth rock hall that stretched away into the cavern.

From Astounding Stories of Super-Science, June, 1930 by Bates, Harry