Worldly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈwər(-ə)ld-lē/ world·ly

Meaning & Definition of Worldly

Worldly (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or devoted to this world and its pursuits rather than to religion or spiritual affairs
  2. possessing or displaying significant experience and knowledge about life and the world, worldly-wise

Worldly (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience

    "she returned from her year as an exchange student a much more worldly person"

    similar: cosmopolitan, smart, sophisticated, worldly-wise
    related: suave, urbane, civilized, cultivated, cultured, polished, refined, experienced, knowing, practiced, schooled, seasoned, bored, cynical, jaded, skeptical, down-to-earth, pragmatic, realistic, sober
    opposite: guileless, ingenuous, innocent, naive, unsophisticated, untutored, unworldly, wide-eyed
    near: callow, green, inexperienced, raw, parochial, provincial, rustic, philistine, uncivilized, uncultured, unrefined, childlike, simple, simpleminded, idealistic, impractical, uncritical, unknowing

  2. having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven

    "preoccupied with worldly concerns"

    similar: carnal, earthborn, earthbound, earthly, fleshly, material, mundane, sublunary, temporal, terrene, terrestrial
    related: animal, bodily, corporal, corporeal, physical, daily, diurnal, unspiritual, anthropic, anthropocentric
    opposite: heavenly, nontemporal, unearthly, unworldly
    near: celestial, Elysian, empyreal, empyrean, supernal, metaphysical, devotional, divine, religious, sacred, spiritual, utopian, ethereal, supernatural, transcendent, transcendental, extraterrestrial, otherworldly, unearthly

Related Entry: Worldly-wise (adjective)

Worldly-wise is a different word from Worldly. The synonyms below are for worldly-wise, not for worldly.

  1. having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience

    "her long career as a globe-trotting journalist has made her very worldly-wise"

    similar: cosmopolitan, smart, sophisticated, worldly
    related: suave, urbane, civilized, cultivated, cultured, polished, refined, experienced, knowing, practiced, schooled, seasoned, bored, cynical, jaded, skeptical, down-to-earth, pragmatic, realistic, sober
    opposite: guileless, ingenuous, innocent, naive, unsophisticated, untutored, unworldly, wide-eyed
    near: callow, green, inexperienced, raw, parochial, provincial, rustic, philistine, uncivilized, uncultured, unrefined, childlike, simple, simpleminded, idealistic, impractical, uncritical, unknowing

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Worldly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Worldly:

cosmopolitan, smart, sophisticated, worldly-wise, carnal, earthborn, earthbound, earthly, fleshly, material, mundane, sublunary, temporal, terrene, terrestrial

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Worldly

Words with the opposite meaning of Worldly:

guileless, ingenuous, innocent, naive, unsophisticated, untutored, unworldly, wide-eyed, heavenly, nontemporal, unearthly

Related Words for Worldly

suave, urbane, civilized, cultivated, cultured, polished, refined, experienced, knowing, practiced, schooled, seasoned, bored, cynical, jaded, skeptical, down-to-earth, pragmatic, realistic, sober, animal, bodily, corporal, corporeal, physical, daily, diurnal, unspiritual, anthropic, anthropocentric

Near Antonyms of Worldly

callow, green, inexperienced, raw, parochial, provincial, rustic, philistine, uncivilized, uncultured, unrefined, childlike, simple, simpleminded, idealistic, impractical, uncritical, unknowing, celestial, Elysian, empyreal, empyrean, supernal, metaphysical, devotional, divine, religious, sacred, spiritual, utopian

Word Forms of Worldly

Inflections: worldlier, worldliest

Derived words: worldliness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Worldly

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Worldly

worldly-minded, worldly-wise, worldly goods, this-worldly

Frequently Asked Questions about Worldly

What does "Worldly" mean?

"Worldly" means of, relating to, or devoted to this world and its pursuits rather than to religion or spiritual affairs. As an adjective, it is defined as: of, relating to, or devoted to this world and its pursuits rather than to religion or spiritual affairs. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Worldly"?

Other words for "Worldly" include cosmopolitan, smart, sophisticated, worldly-wise, carnal, earthborn, earthbound and earthly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Worldly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Worldly"?

There are 45 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Worldly". Common alternatives include cosmopolitan, smart, sophisticated, worldly-wise, carnal, earthborn, earthbound, earthly, fleshly and material.

What is the opposite of "Worldly"?

Antonyms of "Worldly" include guileless, ingenuous, innocent, naive, unsophisticated, untutored, unworldly and wide-eyed. Near antonyms include callow, green, inexperienced and raw.

How do you use "Worldly" in a sentence?

Examples of "Worldly" in a sentence: "she returned from her year as an exchange student a much more worldly person"; "preoccupied with worldly concerns".

Is "Worldly" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Worldly" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Worldly"?

"Worldly" is pronounced /ˈwər(-ə)ld-lē/ and divided into syllables as world·ly.

What is the origin of the word "Worldly"?

First known use: before 12th century.