adj
unholy
uhn-HOH-lee
Unholy (adj) means not holy; wicked, evil, or sacrilegious. Example: “The cult performed an unholy ritual in the abandoned church.”
adj
1
Not holy; wicked, evil, or sacrilegious.
"The cult performed an unholy ritual in the abandoned church."
2
Dreadful or outrageous in degree — used informally to intensify.
"They made an unholy mess of the kitchen."
"There was an unholy racket coming from the flat upstairs."
How to use unholy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEvil or sacrilegious, or (informally) used to mean "terrible/extreme," as in "an unholy mess."
Common pairings
unholy alliance
unholy mess
unholy row
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Word forms
- Comparative
- unholier, more unholy
- Superlative
- unholiest, most unholy
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cult performed an _____ ritual in the abandoned church.
Etymology
From Old English unhāliġ, from un- + holy.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unholy
See all rhymes for unholy →Frequently asked questions
What does “unholy” mean?
The word “unholy” means not holy; wicked, evil, or sacrilegious. In plain terms, evil or sacrilegious, or (informally) used to mean "terrible/extreme," as in "an unholy mess.".
How do you pronounce “unholy”?
“Unholy” is pronounced uhn-HOH-lee (/ʌnˈhəʊli/ in IPA).
How do you use “unholy” in a sentence?
Here is “unholy” used in a sentence: “The cult performed an unholy ritual in the abandoned church.”
What is another word for “unholy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “unholy” include common, impious, impure, mishallowed, profane and unhallowed.
What is the opposite of “unholy”?
The opposite of “unholy” — its antonyms — is holy.
What part of speech is “unholy”?
“Unholy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “unholy” come from?
The word “unholy” comes from Old English. From Old English unhāliġ, from un- + holy.
How many meanings does “unholy” have?
“Unholy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not holy; wicked, evil, or sacrilegious.
