worldly

adjective

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world·ly | \ ˈwər(-ə)ld-lē

, ˈwərl-lē \

Definition of worldly

1 : of, relating to, or devoted to this world and its pursuits rather than to religion or spiritual affairs

2 : worldly-wise

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Choose the Right Synonym for worldly

earthly, worldly, mundane 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 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 and mundane suggesting reference to the immediate and practical. a mundane discussion of finances

Examples of worldly in a Sentence

She is more worldly than her younger sister. she returned from her year as an exchange student a much more worldly person

Recent Examples on the Web The secret to his success at the three-level Warehouse was playing disco music on the best sound system available, creating an atmosphere that many in Chicago relished as an escape from worldly problems. — Deanese Williams-harris, chicagotribune.com, 28 May 2021 His actions stand in sharp contrast to his later reputation as a tolerant man, which some attributed to his evolution from a small-town rural boy to a much more worldly musician. — Sydney Trent, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2021 If politics is the art of the possible, then there are two kinds of radicals: those who disdain all worldly forms of politics, and those who engage in politics in order to change what’s possible. — Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 24 May 2021 The intricate, other-worldly structures look really cool. — Laura Helmuth, Scientific American, 10 May 2021 The Encircle app works on iOS and Android and was created to take inventory of your worldly possessions. — Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2021 His intense love of the experience of baseball fandom reveals how an older Murakami, now in his 70s, views time in relation to worldly accomplishments. — Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2021 Before the crisis, he was extolled in the Indian media as an example of a new class of young, worldly entrepreneurs. — New York Times, 7 May 2021 Behind every smell, every worldly texture, even every emotional response, there is a chemical reaction. — Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'worldly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.