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

The school teachers both secular and religious matters, and welcomes students from different religious backgrounds. — Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 27 Aug. 2026

More than 35,000 war monuments reinforced the secular values of the French Third Republic in public spaces by focusing on equality of sacrifice and drawing on republican symbols. — Shannon Fogg, The Conversation, 26 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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