godless
/'gɔdlis/
Definition
Adjective: 1. Not acknowledging or worshiping any god or deity; atheistic or irreligious: Describes a person, society, or belief system that does not believe in or revere a god or gods. 2. Wicked, immoral, or unprincipled: Used to describe behavior or actions considered profoundly evil or lacking in moral principles, often from a religious perspective.
Usage and Examples
- As an adjective describing a lack of religious belief:
- The philosopher was accused of promoting a godless worldview.
- They lived in a godless society that had abandoned traditional religious practices.
- As an adjective describing wickedness (often rhetorical or emphatic):
- The tyrant was known for his godless cruelty.
- It was a godless act of betrayal.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- The term can be used neutrally to describe secularism or atheism, but it often carries a strong negative connotation, implying moral deficiency or evil, especially when used by religious speakers.
- "Godless heathen": A derogatory phrase combining "godless" with "heathen" (a person who does not belong to a widely held religion) to express strong disapproval of someone's lack of religion or morals.
Variants and Related Words
- Godlessness (noun): The state or quality of being godless.
- He wrote a book criticizing the moral godlessness of the age.
Synonyms
- Atheistic: Denying the existence of God or gods.
- Irreligious: Indifferent or hostile to religion.
- Ungodly: Wicked or immoral; (informally) can also mean unreasonable (e.g., an ungodly hour).
- Impious: Lacking respect for God or religious practice.
- Secular: Denoting attitudes, activities, or things that have no religious or spiritual basis.
Antonyms
- Godly: Devoutly religious; pious.
- Pious: Devoutly religious.
- Religious: Relating to or believing in a religion.
Adjective
-
not revering god
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