Unholy Meaning
/ʌnˈhəʊli/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjNot holy; (by extension) evil, impure, or otherwise perverted.
adjDreadful, terrible, excessive, or otherwise atrocious.
Sentence Examples
Begone, wretched spawn of Hell's unholy bowels!
Sami embodied that unholy mix of holy water and drugs.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The dark magic and evil spells created an ____ presence in the temple.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In the horror movie, a group of people had to face an ____ spirit that was haunting the old and dark house today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English unholi, unhaliȝ, from Old English unhāliġ, from Proto-Germanic *unhailagaz, equivalent to un- + holy. Cognate with Scots unhaly, Dutch onheilig, German Low German unhillig, German unheilig, Danish uhellig, Swedish ohelig.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Presently, however, this pleasing piece was interrupted. Suddenly there was a slight commotion, and a large powerful woman, whom I had noted as one of the most vigorous of the dancers, came, made mad and drunken with unholy excitement, bounding and staggering towards us, shrieking out as she came: - `I want a Black Goat, I must have a Black Goat, bring me a Black Goat!' and down she fell upon the rocky floor foaming and writhing, and shrieking for a Black Goat, about as hideous a spectacle as can well be conceived."
— 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
"Essentially, the problem dates back to pre-privatisation, cost-driven British Rail practices which featured an unholy pact between management and unions, whereby management was able to employ fewer drivers and limited pension cost liabilities, while drivers were able to hoover up lots of lucrative Sunday overtime."
— 2022 November 16, Nigel Harris, “Endless news... little context”, in RAIL, number 970, page 3:
"“Florida has struck an unholy bargain with the Trump administration,” one speaker said. “People are not getting food, hygiene, or medical care. These conditions are substandard and cause irreparable harm.”"
— 2025 August 1, Jamie Guirola, “'Alligator Alcatraz' detainees on hunger strike for 10th day, protesting conditions”, in NBC News, archived from the original on 08 Aug 2025:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The dark magic and evil spells created an ____ presence in the temple.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In the horror movie, a group of people had to face an ____ spirit that was haunting the old and dark house today.