"unholy" meaning in English

See unholy in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ʌnˈhəʊli/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-unholy.wav Forms: unholier [comparative], more unholy [comparative], unholiest [superlative], most unholy [superlative]
Rhymes: -əʊli Etymology: 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. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|unholi}} Middle English unholi, {{inh|en|ang|unhāliġ}} Old English unhāliġ, {{inh|en|gem-pro|*unhailagaz}} Proto-Germanic *unhailagaz, {{prefix|en|un|holy}} un- + holy, {{cog|sco|unhaly}} Scots unhaly, {{cog|nl|onheilig}} Dutch onheilig, {{cog|nds-de|unhillig}} German Low German unhillig, {{cog|de|unheilig}} German unheilig, {{cog|da|uhellig}} Danish uhellig, {{cog|sv|ohelig}} Swedish ohelig Head templates: {{en-adj|er|more}} unholy (comparative unholier or more unholy, superlative unholiest or most unholy)
  1. Not holy; (by extension) evil, impure, or otherwise perverted. Translations (not holy; evil): ἀνόσιος (anósios) (Ancient Greek), нечестив (nečestiv) (Bulgarian), euvel (Dutch), kwaad (Dutch), kwaadaardig (Dutch), boos (Dutch), boosaardig (Dutch), slecht (Dutch), onheilig (Dutch), epäpyhä (Finnish), jumalaton (Finnish), impie (French), maléfique (French), unheilig (German), 𐌿𐌽𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌺𐌽𐍃 (unairkns) (Gothic), istentelen (Hungarian), szentségtelen (Hungarian), elvetemült (Hungarian), gonosz (Hungarian), onheilich (Plautdietsch), rău (Romanian), nesfânt (Romanian), afurisit (Romanian), нечестивый (nečestivyj) (Russian), порочный (poročnyj) (Russian), impío (Spanish), అపవిత్రమైన (apavitramaina) (Telugu), అపవిత్ర (apavitra) (Telugu), kötü (Turkish), fena (Turkish), kem (Turkish), şeytanî (Turkish), nesaludik (Volapük)
    Sense id: en-unholy-en-adj-niEbxRS- Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms prefixed with un-, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Ancient Greek translations, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Dutch translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Gothic translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Plautdietsch translations, Terms with Romanian translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Telugu translations, Terms with Turkish translations, Terms with Volapük translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 89 11 Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with un-: 51 49 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 88 12 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 90 10 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 94 6 Disambiguation of Terms with Ancient Greek translations: 77 23 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 73 27 Disambiguation of Terms with Dutch translations: 89 11 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 73 27 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 92 8 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 83 17 Disambiguation of Terms with Gothic translations: 78 22 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 76 24 Disambiguation of Terms with Plautdietsch translations: 97 3 Disambiguation of Terms with Romanian translations: 73 27 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 91 9 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 95 5 Disambiguation of Terms with Telugu translations: 78 22 Disambiguation of Terms with Turkish translations: 76 24 Disambiguation of Terms with Volapük translations: 91 9 Disambiguation of 'not holy; evil': 97 3
  2. Dreadful, terrible, excessive, or otherwise atrocious. Translations (dreadful): jumalaton (Finnish), kaamea (Finnish), sacré (French), foutu [colloquial] (French), atroce (French), szörnyű (Hungarian), borzalmas (Hungarian), rettenetes (Hungarian), pokoli (Hungarian), rémes (Hungarian), irtózatos (Hungarian), horroroso (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-unholy-en-adj-qT3QyP4N Categories (other): English terms prefixed with un- Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with un-: 51 49 Disambiguation of 'dreadful': 3 97
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: unholy alliance, unholy trinity, unholy water

Inflected forms

{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "holy"
    }
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "unholy alliance"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "unholy trinity"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "unholy water"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "unholi"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English unholi",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "unhāliġ"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English unhāliġ",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*unhailagaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *unhailagaz",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "un",
        "3": "holy"
      },
      "expansion": "un- + holy",
      "name": "prefix"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sco",
        "2": "unhaly"
      },
      "expansion": "Scots unhaly",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "onheilig"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch onheilig",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nds-de",
        "2": "unhillig"
      },
      "expansion": "German Low German unhillig",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "unheilig"
      },
      "expansion": "German unheilig",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "da",
        "2": "uhellig"
      },
      "expansion": "Danish uhellig",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "ohelig"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish ohelig",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "unholier",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "more unholy",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unholiest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most unholy",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er",
        "2": "more"
      },
      "expansion": "unholy (comparative unholier or more unholy, superlative unholiest or most unholy)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "89 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "51 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms prefixed with un-",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "88 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "90 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "94 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "77 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "73 27",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "89 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "73 27",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "92 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "83 17",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "78 22",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Gothic translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "76 24",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hungarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "97 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Plautdietsch translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "73 27",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Romanian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "91 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "95 5",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "78 22",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Telugu translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "76 24",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Turkish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "91 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Volapük translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The priest's unholy behaviour brought the church into disrepute.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 November 16, Nigel Harris, “Endless news... little context”, in RAIL, number 970, page 3:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Not holy; (by extension) evil, impure, or otherwise perverted."
      ],
      "id": "en-unholy-en-adj-niEbxRS-",
      "links": [
        [
          "holy",
          "holy"
        ],
        [
          "evil",
          "evil"
        ],
        [
          "impure",
          "impure"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "nečestiv",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "нечестив"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "euvel"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "kwaad"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "kwaadaardig"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "boos"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "boosaardig"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "slecht"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "onheilig"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "epäpyhä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "jumalaton"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "impie"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "maléfique"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "unheilig"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "got",
          "lang": "Gothic",
          "roman": "unairkns",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "𐌿𐌽𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌺𐌽𐍃"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "anósios",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "ἀνόσιος"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "istentelen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "szentségtelen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "elvetemült"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "gonosz"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "pdt",
          "lang": "Plautdietsch",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "onheilich"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "rău"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "nesfânt"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "afurisit"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "nečestivyj",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "нечестивый"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "poročnyj",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "порочный"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "impío"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "te",
          "lang": "Telugu",
          "roman": "apavitramaina",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "అపవిత్రమైన"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "te",
          "lang": "Telugu",
          "roman": "apavitra",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "అపవిత్ర"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "kötü"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "fena"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "kem"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "şeytanî"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "vo",
          "lang": "Volapük",
          "sense": "not holy; evil",
          "word": "nesaludik"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "51 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms prefixed with un-",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "What an unholy mess your room is in!",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "I've been spending an unholy amount of time trying to write a novel!",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Dreadful, terrible, excessive, or otherwise atrocious."
      ],
      "id": "en-unholy-en-adj-qT3QyP4N",
      "links": [
        [
          "Dreadful",
          "dreadful"
        ],
        [
          "terrible",
          "terrible"
        ],
        [
          "excessive",
          "excessive"
        ],
        [
          "atrocious",
          "atrocious"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "jumalaton"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "kaamea"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "sacré"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "tags": [
            "colloquial"
          ],
          "word": "foutu"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "atroce"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "szörnyű"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "borzalmas"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "rettenetes"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "pokoli"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "rémes"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "irtózatos"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "dreadful",
          "word": "horroroso"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌnˈhəʊli/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-unholy.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/41/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-unholy.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-unholy.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/41/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-unholy.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-unholy.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-əʊli"
    }
  ],
  "word": "unholy"
}
{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "holy"
    }
  ],
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms derived from Old English",
    "English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Old English",
    "English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "English terms prefixed with un-",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/əʊli",
    "Rhymes:English/əʊli/3 syllables",
    "Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Gothic translations",
    "Terms with Hungarian translations",
    "Terms with Plautdietsch translations",
    "Terms with Romanian translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Telugu translations",
    "Terms with Turkish translations",
    "Terms with Volapük translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "unholy alliance"
    },
    {
      "word": "unholy trinity"
    },
    {
      "word": "unholy water"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "unholi"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English unholi",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "unhāliġ"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English unhāliġ",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*unhailagaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *unhailagaz",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "un",
        "3": "holy"
      },
      "expansion": "un- + holy",
      "name": "prefix"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sco",
        "2": "unhaly"
      },
      "expansion": "Scots unhaly",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "onheilig"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch onheilig",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nds-de",
        "2": "unhillig"
      },
      "expansion": "German Low German unhillig",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "unheilig"
      },
      "expansion": "German unheilig",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "da",
        "2": "uhellig"
      },
      "expansion": "Danish uhellig",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "ohelig"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish ohelig",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "unholier",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "more unholy",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "unholiest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most unholy",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er",
        "2": "more"
      },
      "expansion": "unholy (comparative unholier or more unholy, superlative unholiest or most unholy)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The priest's unholy behaviour brought the church into disrepute.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 November 16, Nigel Harris, “Endless news... little context”, in RAIL, number 970, page 3:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Not holy; (by extension) evil, impure, or otherwise perverted."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "holy",
          "holy"
        ],
        [
          "evil",
          "evil"
        ],
        [
          "impure",
          "impure"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "What an unholy mess your room is in!",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "I've been spending an unholy amount of time trying to write a novel!",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Dreadful, terrible, excessive, or otherwise atrocious."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Dreadful",
          "dreadful"
        ],
        [
          "terrible",
          "terrible"
        ],
        [
          "excessive",
          "excessive"
        ],
        [
          "atrocious",
          "atrocious"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʌnˈhəʊli/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-unholy.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/41/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-unholy.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-unholy.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/41/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-unholy.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-unholy.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-əʊli"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "nečestiv",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "нечестив"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "euvel"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "kwaad"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "kwaadaardig"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "boos"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "boosaardig"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "slecht"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "onheilig"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "epäpyhä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "jumalaton"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "impie"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "maléfique"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "unheilig"
    },
    {
      "code": "got",
      "lang": "Gothic",
      "roman": "unairkns",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "𐌿𐌽𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌺𐌽𐍃"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "anósios",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "ἀνόσιος"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "istentelen"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "szentségtelen"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "elvetemült"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "gonosz"
    },
    {
      "code": "pdt",
      "lang": "Plautdietsch",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "onheilich"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "rău"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "nesfânt"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "afurisit"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "nečestivyj",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "нечестивый"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "poročnyj",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "порочный"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "impío"
    },
    {
      "code": "te",
      "lang": "Telugu",
      "roman": "apavitramaina",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "అపవిత్రమైన"
    },
    {
      "code": "te",
      "lang": "Telugu",
      "roman": "apavitra",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "అపవిత్ర"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "kötü"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "fena"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "kem"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "şeytanî"
    },
    {
      "code": "vo",
      "lang": "Volapük",
      "sense": "not holy; evil",
      "word": "nesaludik"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "jumalaton"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "kaamea"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "sacré"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ],
      "word": "foutu"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "atroce"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "szörnyű"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "borzalmas"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "rettenetes"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "pokoli"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "rémes"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "irtózatos"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "dreadful",
      "word": "horroroso"
    }
  ],
  "word": "unholy"
}

Download raw JSONL data for unholy meaning in English (9.0kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-01-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-01-01 using wiktextract (f889f65 and 8fbd9e8). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.