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 For millennia, curious souls have examined a range of worldly phenomena, from the palm of the hand to moldy cheese, to prophesy supernatural knowledge about their fates. John Last, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025 Nine days after the fire, Muir senior Jasmine Collins is living in a motel with her mother and siblings; all of their worldly possessions now fit into their truck. Longreads, 27 June 2025 Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques — these worldly shells stand as evidence of New York’s long history of diversity and change. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025 Dwayne Keith Project, a Hartford act fusing gospel, jazz and hip-hop. 8:30 to 10 p.m.: Khruangbin, the worldly psychedelic soul/rock/dub/pop trio from Houston, Texas. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for worldly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worldly
Adjective
  • The cosmopolitan nature of the club has been clear.
    Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • To highlight indie scenes and neighborhood venues amid Music City's vastly evolving growth toward becoming a cosmopolitan mainstream culture hub driven by the country and Americana's mainstream boom.
    Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Smiling, eye contact and small talk should be kept to a minimum and be strictly mundane.
    Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025
  • There will, of course, be speculation that the Microsoft Outlook outage is cyberattack related, but the reality is likely to be more mundane.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission has accused Edwin Brant Frost IV and his private lending company First Liberty Building & Loan with allegedly presiding over a sophisticated $140 million Ponzi scheme, according to a civil complaint filed on Thursday in federal court in Atlanta.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 11 July 2025
  • Muli’s special smart technology features intelligence residence functions that control the shades, lighting with unique settings for morning and evening, air management and is outfitted with a sophisticated security system.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Generally, Proverbs-Job-Ecclesiastes can be viewed as a temporal trilogy reflecting certainty about wealth and health type rewards in this life for righteousness, with a transition to questioning any such connection, and then cynicism.
    Walt Shelton, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • In recent years, the editors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists have added factors ranging from climate change to artificial intelligence into their temporal calculus.
    Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Flying drones may avoid some problems navigating terrestrial obstacles and potentially be less intrusive and faster.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
  • As a result, Martian dust devils can be thrice as large as their terrestrial analogues.
    Unnati Ashar, Space.com, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • When opposition attackers launch the ball in his penalty area, John makes full use of his physical presence and 6ft 5in (196cm) frame.
    Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 9 July 2025
  • Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.
    Billboard Japan, Billboard, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • The moon is not the only thing that can shorten earthly days.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 July 2025
  • For those in the New Apostolic Reformation, these flags symbolize the belief that when all earthly authority fails, people have the right to appeal directly to God’s authority to justify resistance.
    Art Jipson, The Conversation, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Worldly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worldly. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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