Skip to content

worldly

/ˈwɜː(ɹ)ldli/adjective2 syllables

Worldly means: characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world.

Synonyms for worldly25

adjective, as in characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world

secular, temporal, economic, material, materialistic, mercenary, worldly-minded, mundane, terrestrial, earthly, profane, sophisticated

adjective, as in very sophisticated especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world

blase, sophisticated

also used for worldly

sublunar, terrene, lay, areligious, civil, irreligious, laicist, laicistic, street-smart, secularly, unspiritually, worldlily

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of worldly

unworldly

What does worldly mean?2

adjective

1

characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world“worldly goods and advancement”

2

very sophisticated especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world“the blase traveler refers to the ocean he has crossed as ‘the pond’”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Worldly in a sentence

  • Though he is so worldly-wise, he is still very young.al_ex_an_der
  • There are five ways to emancipate themselves from the bond of worldly passions.unknown
  • It was wrong to try to judge happiness in terms of worldly success.unknown
  • People have worldly passions which lead them into delusions and sufferings.unknown
  • All this worldly wisdom was once the unamiable heresy of some wise man.Scott
  • My master is living a life free from worldly cares.hcougar
  • Gustavo saw an other-worldly creature walking down the hallway.Amastan
  • However, in general, it seems that the Emperors had continued without seeking worldly power.unknown

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of worldly

as a adjective

comparative
worldlier
superlative
worldliest