holier; holiest
1
a
: connected to a god or a religion
a holy temple
a holy relic worn by one of the saints
the Holy Bible
b
: religious and morally good
a holy man
2
informal
—used in phrases that show surprise or excitement
Holy cow! [=Wow!]
Holy mackerel! You got your hair cut!
Holy smoke!
3
informal
—used for emphasis
That boy is a holy terror. [=he is very difficult to control]
He gave them holy hell. [=he scolded them in a very angry way]
Cite this Entry
“Holy.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/holy. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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