unholy

American  

[uhn-hoh-lee] / ʌnˈhoʊ li /

adjective

unholier, unholiest

1. not holy; not sacred or hallowed.

2. impious; sinful; wicked.

3. Informal. dreadful; ungodly.

   They got us out of bed at the unholy hour of three in the morning.

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unholy British  

/ ʌnˈhəʊlɪ /

adjective

1. not holy or sacred

2. immoral or depraved

3. informal outrageous or unnatural

   an unholy alliance

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Other Word Forms

• unholiness noun

Etymology

Origin of unholy

before 1000; Middle English; Old English unhālig (cognate with Dutch onheilig, Old Norse ūheilagr ). See un- ¹, holy

Example Sentences

The so-called "unholy alliance" - a play on the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity - is made up of Museveni, Kainerugaba, and the president's powerful brother and special adviser, Salim Saleh.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

A God’s-eye view captures sparks and flames tearing a circle around his unholy play.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

“You had to pick which side of the contradiction to embrace, or else record the whole unholy snarl itself.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2025

These are images that evoke nature as a force at apparent odds with fashion, holy vs. unholy.

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2025

Now a look of pure, unholy joy appeared in the black-currant eyes, and he tensed his stocky, close-knit body, timing his spring with a mastery born of long practice.

From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford