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ungodly

ungodly

21 7.2
Morally wrong because it goes against religious rules
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈɡɑːdli/
translation icon : pecaminoso
  • His ungodly actions shocked everyone in the community.

If you do, you are unscientific, you are ungodly, you are demonic, whatever.

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Examples

  • The ungodly behavior displayed during the event was condemned by the organizers.

  • What was the army doing here at this ungodly time in the morning?

    Blog text (8)
  • Who is calling at this ungodly hour?

  • And at such an ungodly hour!

  • Were it not for their ungodly ways, he would never have left.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • You go there so you can stay up all night and call me at an ungodly hour!

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Is that the hot tip that brought you up here at this ungodly hour?

  • Pat had been living at home with his mother in some ungodly place down near the Projects.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Why would you consign me to damnation with such an ungodly request?

  • The pressure is ungodly!

Synonyms

evil
vsungodly
1.2

Being very bad and morally wrong, often causing harm to others

is used more for wrongness seen as religiously offensive or irreligious
bad
vsungodly
1.0

Morally wrong or harmful to other people

is used more when moral wrongness specifically suggests lack of religious belief
wicked
vsungodly
149 4.6

A person or action that is very bad and cruel

is used more to stress religious disapproval or irreligious behaviour
immoral
vsungodly
144 4.6

Not following what most people think is right or wrong

is often used when wrongness also suggests lack of religious belief
despicable
vsungodly
  • Offensive
95 5.7

Very bad in a way that makes people feel strong dislike and disgust

is used more when wrongness also offends religious norms or practices
demonic
vsungodly
91 8.1

Extremely evil and cruel, as if caused by the devil

is more about sinister religious influence than ordinary moral error
sinful
vsungodly
56 3.6

Wrong according to religious or moral rules

is used more for wrongness tied to lack of religious feeling
depraved
vsungodly
  • Formal
48 7.8

Very bad and cruel in the way someone behaves

is used more for wrongness viewed as religiously wrong and irreligious
nefarious
vsungodly
  • Formal
47 8.8

Very bad and illegal, done to harm people

is more about moral and religious wrong than mere criminal acts
diabolical
vsungodly
44 8.2

Very evil and cruel, like a devil

is more religiously charged than simple moral wrongdoing without devil links
satanic
vsungodly
36 7.5

Extremely evil and cruel, like something from hell

is stronger, invoking explicit devilish or hellish meaning beyond simple wrongdoing
abominable
vsungodly
24 7.2

Very bad or morally wrong so people strongly dislike it

is more tied to moral or religious outrage than mere unpleasantness
odious
vsungodly
  • Formal
20 8.2

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel strong dislike

is more about moral or religious guilt than mere unpleasantness or disgust
unholy
vsungodly
20 6.3

Extremely cruel and evil, like something from hell

is used more for irreligious or sacrilegious wrong than plain badness
unworthy
vsungodly
  • Offensive
20 5.4

Deserves strong blame or dislike

is used more for wrongness that challenges religious respect or devotion
dastardly
vsungodly
  • Archaic
17 8.4

A person who is very cruel and cowardly, often betraying others secretly

is used more for general moral or religious wrongdoing than for cowardice
wretched
vsungodly
  • Offensive
15 7.1

Very bad in a moral way and deserving strong blame

is used more for wrongness seen as religiously wrong than mere misery
villainous
vsungodly
14 7.3

Very bad and cruel, often hurting other people

is used more for moral or religious condemnation than theatrical wrongdoing
infernal
vsungodly
  • Literature
8 8.3

Very evil and cruel, causing great pain or suffering

is more vivid with hellish imagery than ordinary moral offences or wrongs
unrighteous
vsungodly
  • Formal
5 7.6

Acting in a way that is unfair or morally wrong

is more focused on wrongdoing that also offends religious norms
execrable
vsungodly
  • Formal
4 9.5

Very bad and unpleasant, causing strong dislike

is more focused on moral wrongdoing and religious offence than general badness
iniquitous
vsungodly
  • Formal
2 9.8

Very unfair and wrong in a way that harms people

is nearer to moral wrongness in a religious context than general wrongdoing
condemnable
vsungodly
1 7.5

Deserving strong criticism for being wrong

is used more for moral wrongdoing and irreligious conduct than general criticism
flagitious
vsungodly
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very wicked and criminal act that shocks people

is stronger, stressing shocking extreme wrongdoing beyond ordinary moral wrong
unchristian
vsungodly
7.1

Not relating to the religion that follows the teachings of Jesus

is used more for general moral wrongness beyond merely being nonreligious
unchristlike
vsungodly
8.9

Does not act in the kind, forgiving way Christians teach

is used more for wrongness tied to lack of religious character than simple immorality

Antonyms

260 4.7

Acting in a morally good way that people see as fair

35 4.3

Being morally good and doing what is right

How Godly

godly
19 5.1
ungodly
21 7.2
immoral
144 4.6
wicked
149 4.6
evil
1.2

Surface Forms

ungodly positive

Morphology

ungodly = godly (transparent) = un + god + ly

Formed by prefixing the productive negator 'un-' to 'godly'; the meaning is the direct negation of 'godly' and is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

Ungodly comes from un- meaning 'not' and godly meaning 'like God', so it was used for things that were 'without God' or against God. So today ungodly describes behavior seen as morally wrong or wicked.