| English Dictionary |
UNHOLY (unholier, unholiest)
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
, unholiest Dictionary entry overview: What does unholy mean?
• UNHOLY (adjective)
The adjective UNHOLY has 3 senses:
1. not hallowed or consecrated
2. extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell
3. having committed unrighteous acts
Familiarity information: UNHOLY used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Not hallowed or consecrated
Synonyms:
unhallowed; unholy
Similar:
profane; unconsecrated; unsanctified (not holy because unconsecrated or impure or defiled)
Attribute:
holiness; sanctitude; sanctity (the quality of being holy)
Antonym:
holy (belonging to or derived from or associated with a divine power)
Derivation:
unholiness (the quality of being unholy)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell
Synonyms:
demonic; diabolic; diabolical; fiendish; hellish; infernal; satanic; unholy
Context example:
unholy grimaces
Similar:
evil (morally bad or wrong)
Derivation:
unholiness (the quality of being unholy)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Having committed unrighteous acts
Synonyms:
Context example:
a sinful person
Similar:
unrighteous (not righteous)
Derivation:
unholiness (the quality of being unholy)
Context examples
As she looked, her eyes blazed with unholy light, and the face became wreathed with a voluptuous smile.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
He was behaving as a wolf-father should, and manifesting no unholy desire to devour the young lives she had brought into the world.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
Let me tell you, my friend, that there are things done to-day in electrical science which would have been deemed unholy by the very men who discovered electricity—who would themselves not so long before have been burned as wizards.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
He saw, too, what we all did, the infinite kindness which suggested that his should be the hand which would restore Lucy to us as a holy, and not an unholy, memory; he stepped forward and said bravely, though his hand trembled, and his face was as pale as snow:—"My true friend, from the bottom of my broken heart I thank you. Tell me what I am to do, and I shall not falter!"
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
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