unearthly

adjective

un·​earth·​ly ˌən-ˈərth-lē 

: not earthly: such as

a

: not mundane : ideal

unearthly love

b

: not terrestrial

unearthly radio sources

c

: preternatural, supernatural

an unearthly light

d

: weird, eerie

unearthly howls

e

: absurd, ungodly

gets up at an unearthly hour

unearthliness noun

Synonyms

• magical
• miraculous
• phenomenal
• preternatural
• superhuman
• supernatural
• supernormal
• transcendent
• transcendental
• uncanny

Examples of unearthly in a Sentence

We left at the unearthly time of 5:00 a.m.

an unearthly knack for picking winning lottery numbers

Recent Examples on the Web

Sun, wind, and water sculpted the sandstone into a dramatic, desolate, unearthly landscape of gorges and valleys, inselbergs and stacks, towering tassili and natural arches. —Aminatta Forna, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Aug. 2024

Our engineer, a burly Frenchman named Nicolas Bayou, jerked the door open, and an unearthly cold ripped through the cabin. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 June 2024

Each element, including the exaggerated architecture that teems with unearthly detail and strangely loping electronic score, reinforces her own shaky perspective being reforged in real-time. —Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 1 May 2024

The singer, songwriter and harpist brings her ethereal sounds to a suitably unearthly venue. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unearthly

• unearthly hour/time

Kids Definition

unearthly

adjective

un·​earth·​ly ˌən-ˈərth-lē 

ˈən-

1

: not of or belonging to the earth

unearthly terrain

2

: supernatural sense 2, weird, terrifying

an unearthly scream

unearthliness noun