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View synonyms for

worldly

[wurld-lee]

adjective

worldlier, worldliest 
  1. of or relating to this world as contrasted with heaven, spiritual life, etc.; earthly; mundane.

    Synonyms:
    Antonyms:
  2. experienced; knowing; sophisticated.

    the benefits of his worldly wisdom.

    Synonyms: ,
  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

/ ˈɜːɪ /

adjective

  1. not spiritual; mundane or temporal

  2. Also: worldly-minded.absorbed in or concerned with material things or matters that are immediately relevant

  3. Also: worldly-wise.versed in the ways of the world; sophisticated

  4. archaicexisting on or relating to the earth

  5. obsoletesecular; 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. archaicin 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
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Other Word Forms

  • worldliness noun
  • preworldliness noun
  • preworldly adjective
  • superworldliness noun
  • superworldly adjective
  • ˈɴǰԱ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of worldly1

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English ɴǰ()ī. See world, -ly
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Synonym Study

See earthly.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But Zephyr is as worldly as Bruce is, meaning that she’s a cunning foil to his long-running string of untraceable serial murders.

From

At the same time, interest in a more vague spirituality is on the rise, fueled by "wellness" influencers framing spirituality as a shortcut to worldly gains like money, fitness, and romance.

From

“The church is rightly concerned with preaching the Gospels, but it is also a worldly institution that has to pay its bills, and the new pope can help solve some of that.”

From

But there's no denying that this explosively popular podcast has also produced worldly accomplishments for its hosts.

From

The Bible casts the double-minded man as insecure in his faith, divided between divine direction and worldly distraction.

From

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worldlingworldly-minded