Synonyms of secular

secular 1 of 2

adjective

ˈse-kyə-lər 

as in temporal

not involving religion or religious matters

that's an issue for the secular authorities, not the church

Synonyms & Similar Words

• temporal
• nonreligious
• physical
• profane
• pagan
• atheistic
• irreligious
• godless
• nondenominational
• nonsectarian
• mundane
• corporal
• earthly
• religionless
• worldly
• lay
• terrestrial
• nonclerical
• laical
• blasphemous
• bodily
• irreverent
• substantial
• paganish
• impious
• sacrilegious
• carnal
• material
• unconsecrated
• terrene
• unhallowed
• fleshly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• religious
• spiritual
• sacred
• divine
• holy
• pious
• devout
• sacrosanct
• godly
• metaphysical
• consecrated
• reverent
• hallowed
• prayerful
• worshipful
• insubstantial
• ethereal
• immaterial
• churchly
• sanctified
• unsubstantial
• nonphysical
• incorporeal
• bodiless

secular

2 of 2

noun

as in layman

Related Words

• layman
• layperson
• lay reader
• lector

Dissimilar Words

• priest
• clerical
• preacher
• ecclesiastic
• minister
• cleric
• divine
• reverend
• clerk
• deacon
• clergyman
• dominie
• father
• churchman
• clergyperson
• padre
• priestess
• Holy Joe
• deaconess
• clergywoman

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of secular

Adjective

Nor were they allowed to watch Disney movies, which often included magic, and most secular television shows were off-limits. — Felice J. Freyer, STAT, 19 Aug. 2026

The point of this article is to illustrate that this secular bull market is ongoing and is not being threatened by higher rates or some great rotation out of growth. — Todd Gordon, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

There was a change of heart among the secular nationalists during the second intifada—which started in 2000 and ended in 2005—in which seculars also joined forces. — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2023

His selection of works, for example, mixed the sacred with the secular, interspersing chorale preludes (which use Lutheran hymns as their point of departure) with the six trio sonatas for organ. — Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Dec. 2022

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