GODLY Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

godly

adjective

ˈgäd-lē

Definition of godly

as in pious

showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue a godly and humble man who will be richly rewarded in the next world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in divine

of, relating to, or being God a godly voice from the heavens commanded him to build an ark

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of godly On finding his magical hammer there he is given back his godly powers and returns to his home planet to protect it from an attack by his wayward brother, played by British actor Tom Hiddleston. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026 Dozens of boys say they were abused in a Christian scouting program that vowed to raise godly men. — Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 22 May 2026 But this new condominium features more than a godly cityscape. — Michael Gross, Air Mail, 4 Apr. 2026 Baruch Spinoza argued for a singular godly substance of which everything in existence is an attribute. — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for godly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for godly

Adjective

But the overall picture of religious infighting in 1640s Britain is essential to understanding how some people, especially poorer folk and especially women, found themselves on the wrong side of powerful, pious opponents.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Romania is one of the most pious countries in the European Union, with around 85% of the population identifying as religious.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of pious

Adjective

These bog bodies tell stories of a time when humans were sacrificed to the gods in bogs, as otherworldly margins between the human and divine realms, or when social outcasts met a cruel, violent end for failing to conform to societal standards.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
The temple, the largest in Aurora, was crowded Sunday with thousands observing the first day of Navaratri, a nine-night celebration of Shakti -- the divine feminine energy believed to be foundational to all creation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of divine

Adjective

Its accompanying music video, directed by longtime U2 collaborator Anton Corbijn, was filmed in the California desert and satirizes the band as a religious cult in which women do the heavy lifting.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week Hasan’s execution would be livestreamed, eliciting pushback from Democrats, Republicans and religious advocates about the idea.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of religious

Adjective

Under what was known as the Status Quo, a set of unwritten understandings between Israel and Jordan, the custodian of Jerusalem’s Muslim holy sites, Jews could visit the shrine, but only Muslims could worship there.

— Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026
Earlier on Saturday, the Houthies threatened new attacks on the kingdom's airports, except for the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, warning passengers not to travel.

— CBS News, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of holy

Adjective

Indeed, in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, Ali stars as Latif, a devout Muslim and contract killer who travels across Houston in an effort to protect his three children following the death of his wife.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Skillet now regularly shares stages with a wide range of acts, from the devout to the secular, including Korn, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown, Disturbed, and Papa Roach.

— Steve Appleford, SPIN, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of devout

Adjective

The delectable dip paired with the sugary chips was a heavenly combination, with a surprising burst of chocolate in every scoop.

— Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
The duo think they’re headed to the heavenly afterlife only to arrive at the office of the Devil (voiced by Culkin), who seems overwhelmed by his job.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of heavenly

Adjective

Imam Mohammed Ali Elahi, spiritual leader of the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, is considering becoming a poll chaplain for the first time.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Others hold cultural and spiritual significance, as the condor does for the Yurok Tribe in California.

— David Ginsburg, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of spiritual

Adjective

In January of 2025, at least 30 people were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river during the Maha Kumbh festival, the world’s largest religious gathering.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Native American tribes say the approximately 520-acre site in Virginia is sacred.

— Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of sacred

Browse Nearby Words

godliness

godly

go down

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Godly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/godly. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of godly

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

vocation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes