god-fearing
3 antonyms for god-fearing — opposites grouped by meaning.
Adjective — Deeply religious in a way that shows in how you live, marked by reverence for God and by moral, respectable conduct.
Antonyms
How to use god-fearing
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
god-fearing man
god-fearing family
decent, god-fearing people
Almost always approving, and often used to signal traditional respectability as much as belief. Capitalisation of God varies; God-fearing is the more traditional styling.
Etymology
A compound of God and fearing, using fear in its older sense of awe and reverence rather than fright.
Full origin of god-fearing →Frequently asked questions
Does god-fearing mean being afraid of God?
No. Fear here carries its older sense of awe and deep respect, the same sense as in 'the fear of the Lord'. A god-fearing person reveres God rather than being frightened of him.
What is the difference between god-fearing and religious?
Religious simply says a person holds and practises a faith. God-fearing adds a moral judgement, suggesting the person is honest, decent and traditional in conduct because of that faith, and it is nearly always meant as praise.
