unholy

adjective

un·​ho·​ly ˌən-ˈhō-lē How to pronounce unholy (audio)
1
: showing disregard for what is holy : wicked
2
: deserving of censure
an unholy alliance
3
: very unpleasant : god-awful
an unholy mess
unholiness noun

Examples of unholy in a Sentence

Our finances were an unholy mess. They have spent an unholy amount of money on the project.
Recent Examples on the Web The New Empire delves deeper into the mysteries of the Hollow Earth and reveals a Titan menace that necessitates an unholy alliance of Godzilla and Kong. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024 Almost immediately, suggestions popped up that the speech was generated by artificial intelligence or, in an unholy alliance of conspiracy theories, that her cancer was caused by the COVID-19 vaccine. David Bauder, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2024 There is much to say, and criticize, about the unholy influence of money in our politics. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 In rallies for parent notification and other culture war priorities, speakers have at times periodically characterized public schools as havens for molesters and for educators who want to groom students into what the speakers describe as deviant and unholy lifestyles. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 But the right storage conditions—those which defend against light, oxygen, and heat, the unholy trinity that accelerates the rancidity process—can extend the deliciousness of your nuts. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024 Another factor is the unholy churn of fast fashion, a business model epitomized by notorious brands like FashionNova and Shein, whose output makes older fast-fashion merchants look quaint. Jonah Weiner, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Cahokia’s would-be plunderers form an unholy alliance with the Ku Klux Klan, whose followers despise Cahokia’s multicultural essence and are itching for riot and murder. Mary Ann Gwinn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024 Eileen, desperate to hold onto Rebecca’s approval, winds up implicated in a bizarre human experiment, an unholy and unsolicited experiment of grief, revulsion and horror. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unholy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unholy was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near unholy

Cite this Entry

“Unholy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unholy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

unholy

adjective
un·​ho·​ly ˌən-ˈhō-lē How to pronounce unholy (audio)
ˈən-
: not holy : profane, wicked
unholiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unholy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!