unholy
Unholy (adj) means not holy; wicked, evil, or sacrilegious. Example: “The cult performed an unholy ritual in the abandoned church.”
How to use unholy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEvil or sacrilegious, or (informally) used to mean "terrible/extreme," as in "an unholy mess."
Word forms
unholier comparative, more unholy comparative, unholiest superlative, most unholy superlative
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Can you complete this real example?
The cult performed an _____ ritual in the abandoned church.
Etymology
From Old English unhāliġ, from un- + holy.
Synonyms
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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.