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

Lacking reverence for God; not in keeping with religious teaching.

"The preacher condemned their ungodly behaviour."

Immoral or wicked.

"The regime committed ungodly acts against its own people."

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

more ungodly comparative, ungodlier comparative, more ungodly comparative, most ungodly superlative, ungodliest superlative, most ungodly superlative

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Etymology

From Old English godlīċ ("godlike"), with un- added — the informal "extreme/outrageous" sense developed later in English.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for ungodly

godly goodly

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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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