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Synonyms

unworldly

American  
[uhn-wurld-lee] / ʌnˈwɜrld li /

adjective

  1. not worldly; not seeking material advantage; spiritually minded.

  2. naive; unsophisticated; provincial.

  3. not terrestrial; unearthly.


unworldly British  
/ ʌnˈwɜːldlɪ /

adjective

  1. not concerned with material values or pursuits

  2. lacking sophistication; naive

  3. not of this earth or world

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of unworldly

First recorded in 1700–10; un- 1 + worldly


Vocabulary lists containing unworldly

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.

See Examples For:

“The Rise of Silas Lapham,” about an honest but unworldly self-made entrepreneur among Boston nabobs, dwells in the nuances of etiquette and morals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

It’s impressive enough as it stands, but when the skirt opens to reveal a team of dancers inside of it as Gaga transitions from “Bloody Mary” to “Abracadabra,” it seems almost unworldly.

From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2025

The King is presented as old fashioned and rather unworldly.

From BBC ● Jan. 10, 2023

Took down Dallas, Vegas and Minnesota by scoring 13 combined goals, getting them from bottom two forward lines and not just unworldly 28-point defenseman Erik Karlsson.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 18, 2022

Other friends told the Marches that they had lost all chance of being remembered in the rich old lady’s will, but the unworldly Marches only said...

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

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