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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in divine

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

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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 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 Trump’s version of Christianity instead preaches no mercy for those against him, demands followers exalt him above everything, celebrates the gaudy instead of the godly. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for godly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for godly

Adjective

Preachers and patricians constantly warned that, if allowed to live unchecked in the city, Jews would ‘infect’ the Christian faithful, poisoning the minds of the pious and stealing souls away from salvation.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 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

The ingredients that turn a flop into a cult classic are difficult to divine.

— Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
This understanding reveals that our substance is not material – that, in fact, matter has nothing to do with our substance, which is entirely spiritual, as the expression of divine Spirit.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of divine

Adjective

Netanyahu’s government, the most ultranationalist and religious in Israel’s history, has presided over a surge of settlement construction in the West Bank.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Netanyahu’s government is the most ultranationalist and religious in Israel’s history.

— Ibrahim Hazboun, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of religious

Adjective

Johnny Cash was a lot of things — devout Christian, country superstar, anti-Vietnam activist, variety show host.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2026
The religious approach appealed to devout Catholics such as Velazquez, an immigrant from Mexico who spent three decades without status in the country, cutting hair from her home and cleaning houses when business was slow.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of devout

Adjective

Where the Europeans see a battle to be won, and even the other Sherpa see a terrifying sacred force, Tenzing sees a heavenly mother — smiling down on him since childhood, bearing witness to his heartbreaks in adulthood, calling him now to come home.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Luzzi’s heavenly version is layered with almond, fig, honey and bavaroise.

— Ann Lee, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of heavenly

Adjective

When the crown proves capable of betrayal, Garfield sees the break as spiritual as much as political.

— JP Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
Experts suspect the pigment may be cinnabar, a mercury sulfide mineral that held immense spiritual and ritualistic value for the Chimu, explicitly reserved for high-ranking members of society.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of spiritual

Adjective

Both the house and its environment have, as a result, led to intense research into the field of sacred geometry, including naturally occurring numerical patterns such as the Fibonacci sequence and golden ratio.

— Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2026
Zhang Ding, a key figure in Chinese contemporary art, contributes a piece composed of golden light panels that casts an almost sacred glow, illuminating transparent glass humanoid heads with gemstone-like surfaces.

— Denni Hu, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of sacred

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“Godly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/godly. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of godly

adjective

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