unholy
Americanadjective
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not holy; not sacred or hallowed.
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impious; sinful; wicked.
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Informal. dreadful; ungodly.
They got us out of bed at the unholy hour of three in the morning.
adjective
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not holy or sacred
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immoral or depraved
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informal outrageous or unnatural
an unholy alliance
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unholy
before 1000; Middle English; Old English unhālig (cognate with Dutch onheilig, Old Norse ūheilagr ). See un- 1, holy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The singer gained global fame following her 2022 collaboration with singer Sam Smith on Unholy, which topped charts in the UK and internationally.
From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026
Such sweet sentiments are at odds with her onscreen character - as the Unholy Union both Isla and Alba are villains, or heels in wrestling terms.
From BBC • Dec. 31, 2024
Sam Smith, whose song Unholy with Kim Petras went viral on TikTok this year, was the second most viewed artist, while London-born rapper Central Cee came third.
From BBC • Dec. 6, 2023
The Grammys enlisted pop music's elder stateswoman to introduce Sam Smith, a nonbinary performer, and Kim Petras, a trans woman, on the occasion of their history-making Grammy win for their chart-topping duet "Unholy."
From Salon • Feb. 17, 2023
She didn't say, Unholy union, Batman, when Steve and Tina eloped over Labor Day.
From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
