otherworldly

adjective

oth·​er·​world·​ly ˌə-t͟hər-ˈwərl(d)-lē How to pronounce otherworldly (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or resembling that of a world other than the actual world
b
: devoted to preparing for a world to come
2
: devoted to intellectual or imaginative pursuits
otherworldliness noun

Examples of otherworldly in a Sentence

otherworldly creatures from the deep sea a movie in which otherworldly beings live among us in a parallel universe
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Though these stories offer a vision of liberation, that vision lies entirely beyond the impossible first step of otherworldly transformation. Nathaniel Moore september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025 The initial touch marks the transition from regular life—chitchat, logistics, social armor—to the otherworldly realm of the massage, in which mind and body are uniquely harmonized, and some kind of euphoria is achieved. Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 Ansari mined from Reeves' past comedic roles — the Bill & Ted franchise, Parenthood — when creating the otherworldly character for his own harsh lessons about life on Earth. Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025 Jolie nonetheless manages to bring some palpable life to the role, complicating her otherworldly magnetism with a dawning dread and sorrow. Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for otherworldly

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of otherworldly was in 1879

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Cite this Entry

“Otherworldly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otherworldly. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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