Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Resembling or characteristic of a god or deity: Possessing qualities, attributes, or a nature that is considered divine, supreme, or superhuman.
   • Appropriate to a god; supremely excellent: Of a quality or degree so exceptional that it seems to belong to or befit a divine being.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Her godlike patience with the children was admired by everyone. (Her patience was so extraordinary it seemed divine.)
  • The athlete displayed godlike strength and agility on the field. (The athlete's physical abilities were superhuman.)
  • He possesses a godlike understanding of complex mathematical theories. (His understanding is of a supremely excellent, almost divine level.)

Advanced Usage

• "godlike powers": Extraordinary abilities or authority that are typically associated with a deity.
  • The ancient myth tells of a hero granted godlike powers by the sun god.
• "godlike status": A position of reverence or awe, as if one were a god.
  • The founder of the company achieved a godlike status among his employees.
• "godlike beauty": Beauty of an ethereal, perfect, or transcendent kind.
  • The poet described her face as having a godlike beauty.

Variants and Related Words

• Godly (adj): Devoutly religious; pious. (Note: "Godly" more often refers to virtue and piety, while "godlike" refers to resembling a god in nature or quality.)
• Divine (adj): Of, from, or like God or a god. (This is a close synonym but can also refer specifically to the Christian God.)
• Deific (adj): Characterized by divine or godlike nature. (A more formal, less common synonym.)

Synonyms

• Divine: Of, from, or like God or a god.
• Superhuman: Having or showing exceptional ability or powers beyond normal human capacity.
• Celestial: Pertaining to the sky or heaven; supremely good.
• Transcendent: Beyond or above the range of normal or physical human experience; surpassing the ordinary.

Antonyms

• Mortal: Subject to death; of or characteristic of human beings.
• Human: Having the qualities or faults of people.
• Ordinary: With no special or distinctive features; normal.
• Earthly: Of or characteristic of this earth; worldly.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Play God: To assume powers or authority that properly belong to God, or to make decisions of immense importance affecting others' lives.
  • Scientists debate the ethics of genetic engineers who seem to play God.
• (A) gift from the gods: Something very beneficial that comes unexpectedly.
  • The sudden rain was a gift from the gods for the parched farmland. (Note: This idiom uses "gods," not the adjective "godlike.")

Adjective

1. being or having the nature of a god; 'tis God-like to create"-J.G.Saxe
   • the custom of killing the divine king upon any serious failure of his...powers-J.G.Frazier
   • the divine will
   • the divine capacity for love
   • 'Tis wise to learn
2. appropriate to or befitting a god
   • the divine strength of Achilles
   • a man of godlike sagacity
   • man must play God for he has acquired certain godlike powers-R.H.Roveref