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
“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


adverb

  1. archaic.
    in a worldly manner
“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
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

The real stuff of my work that is, not the worldly responsibilities that go along with it.

To just drop whatever loads we’re bearing, retreating to some private realm where our worldly concerns fade into oblivion.

This teaching merged with a broader, evangelical skepticism toward expertise and worldly knowledge.

Today, Mormon congregants are often told to recognize the juxtaposition between “worldly wisdom” and “divine truths.”

His intense love of the experience of baseball fandom reveals how an older Murakami, now in his 70s, views time in relation to worldly accomplishments.

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

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


worldlingworldly-minded