Synonym Chooser

How is the word worldly distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words earthly and mundane are common synonyms of worldly. While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification.

worldly goods

When could earthly be used to replace worldly?

Although the words earthly and worldly have much in common, earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

In what contexts can mundane take the place of worldly?

While in some cases nearly identical to worldly, mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

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 worldly What’s to Come with Fragrance Trujillo spoke to the future of fragrances, and the next several years will be worldly and unexpected. Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025 This blends seamlessly into the surrounding decor while offering a worldly and sophisticated element. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 2025 His final wish: to be remembered as a humble priest, not as a figure of worldly power. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025 The existence of the Vatican as a sovereign state is rooted in the papal refusal to let go of worldly and territorial power. Howard Chua-Eoan, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for worldly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worldly
Adjective
  • Or when my older brother took me to eat borscht at his favorite college haunt near NYU, which was packed with cosmopolitan students all ordering the same thing.
    Daria Lavelle, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • In addition to the building’s many amenities, residents will be able to enjoy waterfront living, private boat tours, and walkable access to the Brickell City Centre, offering the perfect mixture of cosmopolitan living with a tranquil waterfront lifestyle.
    Emma Reynolds, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • There is also the cumulative stress of police work: the daily drips of violence, misery and death; the relentless staccato of calls that can spiral from mundane to dramatic in a split second.
    Katja Ridderbusch, NPR, 26 May 2025
  • Some of the lines capture hilariously mundane moments of humanity.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • Modern manufacturing already relies on robotics, computer vision, predictive maintenance and sophisticated supply chain optimization.
    Richard Lebovitz, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • For active traders seeking sophisticated, flexible trading tools, Robinhood Legend has arrived, introducing a new way to trade.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Though the papal tiara, symbolizing spiritual, temporal and supreme power, is still revered, no pope has worn it since Paul VI (1963-1978), who sold his for charity.
    NBC News, NBC news, 18 May 2025
  • Those questions are, so often, temporal and corporeal.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Related Stories The Mogami Terra Tech’s biological and engineered materials combine in natural shades like camouflage fatigues, extracted from terrestrial environments saturated with brush, soil and clay.
    Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
  • That would mean another UK asset for RedBird, the terrestrial network Channel 5.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Time to Act on Antisemitism is Now This final example demonstrated how Washington’s Jewish community made use of their physical location to enact international change.
    Time, Time, 3 June 2025
  • When calories are too restricted or not enough nutrients are being provided by a diet, there could be an interruption in physical processes that could lead to fatigue, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating, Keeler added.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • They are lined with stainless steel and their flip-up tops reveal beetles swarming the earthly remains of various small animals, mostly birds.
    Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 13 May 2025
  • From the time of its populist founding, the Christian Church professed profound optimism about life, both earthly and eternal.
    Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Worldly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worldly. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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