Synonym Chooser

How is the word earthly distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words mundane and worldly are common synonyms of earthly. While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

When is mundane a more appropriate choice than earthly?

In some situations, the words mundane and earthly are roughly equivalent. However, mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

How are the words worldly and mundane related as synonyms of earthly?

Worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification.

worldly goods

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of earthly Co-written by Bentley with Greg Kwedar (the primary creative team behind ‘Sing Sing’), ‘Train Dreams’ thrives on its philosophical inquiries into the earthly randomness of events that make up a life. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2025 Especially right now, when most of whatever happens next would seem to be determined by arbitrary and despotic centers of earthly power. James Parker, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025 Between them stretches the long expanse of the table—a zone of tension, where the celestial mission of knowledge collides with the earthly reality of budgets. Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025 The bottom tier represents the earthly world and the physical offerings to nourish the spirits during their journey. Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for earthly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earthly
Adjective
  • Without temporal permanence, hallucinations inherited from their past selves are accepted as true, and can begin to compound.
    Tharin Pillay, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The novella lacks the temporal markers that indicate how much time has passed between episodes and exhibits an abundance of characters with ruptured psyches.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Incredibles films follow the daily lives of the Parr family, a household of superheroes trying to hide their powers while navigating a mundane life that occasionally beckons for more.
    Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
  • In recent months, part of that strategy has extended to agentic AI, which—when deployed at scale—is meant to handle routine, mundane tasks autonomously with little input from human employees.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Having exhausted our terrestrial destination, humanity is now reaching for extraterrestrial ones.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Instead of running physical cables that connect your home or RV to the greater internet, Starlink uses a series of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that communicate between your home dish and a terrestrial gateway somewhere else on Earth.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Is basketball good for your physical health?
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
  • In this case, the donation is a physical piece of equipment, and the money can’t be diverted to something else, Obayashi said.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Not quite plant, not quite animal; delicious and wild and rare.
    Callie Sumlin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Perhaps unsurprisingly, dogs were more likely to respond to animal stimuli than to non-animal stimuli.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Earthly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earthly. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on earthly

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