ungodly
uhn-GOD-lee
Ungodly (adj) means lacking reverence for God; not in keeping with religious teaching. Example: “The preacher condemned their ungodly behaviour.”
adj
1
Lacking reverence for God; not in keeping with religious teaching.
"The preacher condemned their ungodly behaviour."
2
Immoral or wicked.
"The regime committed ungodly acts against its own people."
3
Extreme, unreasonable, or outrageous — often used of time or amount.
"She called me at some ungodly hour of the morning."
"They charged an ungodly amount for parking."
How to use ungodly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "not religious/wicked" or, more casually, "an extreme, ridiculous amount" (as in "an ungodly hour").
Common pairings
ungodly hour
ungodly amount
ungodly noise
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more ungodly, ungodlier
- Superlative
- most ungodly, ungodliest
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The preacher condemned their _____ behaviour.
Etymology
From Old English godlīċ ("godlike"), with un- added — the informal "extreme/outrageous" sense developed later in English.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for ungodly
See all rhymes for ungodly →Frequently asked questions
What does “ungodly” mean?
The word “ungodly” means lacking reverence for God; not in keeping with religious teaching. In plain terms, either "not religious/wicked" or, more casually, "an extreme, ridiculous amount" (as in "an ungodly hour").
How do you pronounce “ungodly”?
“Ungodly” is pronounced uhn-GOD-lee (/ʌnˈɡɑdli/ in IPA).
How do you use “ungodly” in a sentence?
Here is “ungodly” used in a sentence: “The preacher condemned their ungodly behaviour.”
What part of speech is “ungodly”?
“Ungodly” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ungodly” come from?
The word “ungodly” comes from Old English. From Old English godlīċ ("godlike"), with un- added — the informal "extreme/outrageous" sense developed later in English.
How many meanings does “ungodly” have?
“Ungodly” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: lacking reverence for God; not in keeping with religious teaching.
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