otherworldly

adjective

oth·​er·​world·​ly ˌə-t͟hər-ˈwərl(d)-lē 

1

a

: of, relating to, resembling, or suggesting that of a world other than the actual world

the otherworldly creatures of the deep sea

b

: devoted to preparing for a world to come

2

: devoted to intellectual or imaginative pursuits

otherworldliness noun

Synonyms of otherworldly

• supernatural
• paranormal
• transcendental
• mystical
• metaphysical

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

Set along the south shore of Lake Superior, the stunning ice caves of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore strike an otherworldly figure. —Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026

From the expansive Blue Ridge Mountains to the otherworldly Florida Everglades, and every incredible state park, beach, and scenic viewpoint between, the region is a nature lover’s paradise. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026

The family’s confidants, real and imagined, insist on both their normalcy and their otherworldly grace. —Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026

The results might offer clues for finding life thriving under otherworldly surfaces, too. —Damien Pine, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for otherworldly

• unworldly
• worldly