1
as in cosmopolitan
having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience
she returned from her year as an exchange student a much more worldly person
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mundane
having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven
preoccupied with worldly concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worldly
The contrast between svn4vr’s different inflections evokes the spiritual tension of a pious person torn between worldly desire and submission to a higher power.
—
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
The detectives recognized that his heartbeat would disprove his story of running around trying to rescue all of his worldly belongings.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
The worldly evidence is that the Pope’s words and presence had no direct effect.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
By taking on the condition of a servant, the Son reveals the Father’s glory, overturning the worldly standards that so often distort our conscience.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for worldly
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
The detectives recognized that his heartbeat would disprove his story of running around trying to rescue all of his worldly belongings.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
The worldly evidence is that the Pope’s words and presence had no direct effect.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
By taking on the condition of a servant, the Son reveals the Father’s glory, overturning the worldly standards that so often distort our conscience.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for worldly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worldly
Adjective
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The rooms’ quietly cosmopolitan air owes much to the hand of Unscripted, a Singapore design studio.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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The Whitley Hotel Atlanta Buckhead One of Buckhead's most charming properties, The Whitley blends old-school grandeur with cosmopolitan style.—
Ellie Nan Storck,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But there was a time when the title character of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's film, Amélie, was expected to sport a far more mundane 'do.—
Adèle Bari,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
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The girls would spend hours filming TikToks, turning mundane daily moments into something playful and childlike.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The series’ earnestly naïve sound design (horses neighing, cars revving) only enhanced my appreciation of Joudrey’s sophisticated storytelling.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Ditto the sophisticated modulations and subtle rhythmic shifts that underpin Puth’s best songs.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The first is their temporal nature—they are specifically designed for live and unfolding events, and their modality reflects this liveness.—
Daniel Jackson,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
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Her formidable, untitled 2026 sphinx regally commands its space among ancient Egyptian and Roman sculpture, a marvel of the cross-temporal and cross-spatial, spiked with specific references to Black self-determination.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Still, the music flourished on terrestrial radio and music-video television, two venues for mass musical experiences whose power has diminished drastically in the streaming era.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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Broadcasting and telecommunications encompass radio and television services (including terrestrial broadcasting, cable, and satellite), telephony and wireless networks, and online streaming services.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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His physical attributes caught the attention of the Ravens’ front office and scouts, but his relationship with Heap helped drive his quality of character home.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
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Both Ponds and Glenn were undersized cornerbacks who both love to get physical.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As the visionary figure, Bambaataa brought the sampling ethos to the music as well as an Afrocentric philosophy, a way of living unbounded by the earthly confines of whatever America had been or would become.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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That’s to say, there’s earthly authority and there’s heavenly authority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worldly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worldly. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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