holy
13 synonyms and 5 antonyms for holy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Regarded as sacred or dedicated to a god or religious purpose.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use holy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English hālig, related to hāl ("whole, healthy") — the same root that gives us the word "whole."
Full origin of holy →Frequently asked questions
What does “holy” mean?
The word “holy” means regarded as sacred or dedicated to a god or religious purpose. In plain terms, sacred, connected to God or religion — or, in casual speech, just a way to express surprise ("holy smokes!").
How do you pronounce “holy”?
“Holy” is pronounced HOH-lee (/ˈhoʊli/ in IPA).
How do you use “holy” in a sentence?
Here is “holy” used in a sentence: “Pilgrims travel long distances to visit the holy city.”
What is another word for “holy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “holy” include blessed, celestial, devoutful, divine, hallowed and heavenly.
What is the opposite of “holy”?
The opposite of “holy” — its antonyms — are profane, secular, unhallowed, unholy and worldly.
What part of speech is “holy”?
Depending on how it is used, “holy” can be an adjective and an intj.
Where does the word “holy” come from?
The word “holy” comes from Old English. From Old English hālig, related to hāl ("whole, healthy") — the same root that gives us the word "whole.".
Is “holy” a common word?
“Holy” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between holy and sacred?
The two overlap heavily. 'Sacred' describes something set apart for religious use or treated with deep respect — a sacred text, a sacred site. 'Holy' carries a stronger sense of divine purity or closeness to God, and applies to beings as well as things, as in 'a holy person.' Sacred is also used more loosely for anything greatly cherished.
What is the opposite of holy?
The most direct opposites are 'unholy' and 'profane,' both suggesting a lack of sanctity or active disrespect toward the sacred. 'Secular' is the neutral opposite, meaning simply worldly or non-religious rather than evil. Which one fits depends on your meaning: 'profane' implies irreverence, while 'secular' just marks the absence of a religious quality.
Is holy only used in religion?
Primarily, yes — its core meaning ties something to God or to religious devotion. But it also appears in everyday and figurative speech, from exclamations like 'holy cow' to treating a rule as 'holy,' meaning absolutely not to be broken. In those uses it borrows the weight and seriousness of the religious sense.