Definition

1. Noun:
   • An inhabitant of the earth: A being, especially a human, who lives on the planet Earth.
   • A person absorbed by the concerns and interests and pleasures of the present world: A person who is deeply engrossed in secular, material, or temporal matters, often to the exclusion of spiritual or intellectual pursuits.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • As a mere worldling, he had little interest in philosophical debates about the afterlife. (This describes a person focused on earthly matters.)
  • The monk sought to guide the worldlings toward a more spiritual path. (This refers to people absorbed in worldly concerns.)
  • Every worldling must face the realities of life and death. (This uses the term to mean an inhabitant of Earth.)

Advanced Usage

• The term worldling often carries a mildly critical or contrasting tone, implying a focus on the superficial or transient aspects of life compared to more profound, spiritual, or intellectual values.
  • The poet contrasted the serene life of the hermit with the frantic pursuits of the worldling.

Variants and Related Words

• Worldly (adj): Of or concerned with material values or ordinary life rather than spiritual or intellectual ones.
  • He had a very worldly attitude, always chasing wealth and status.
• Worldliness (n): The quality of being experienced and sophisticated in the ways of the world, often with a focus on material interests.

Synonyms

• Earthling: An inhabitant of the earth. (More neutral, often used in science fiction.)
• Materialist: A person who considers material possessions and physical comfort more important than spiritual values.
• Secularist: A person who advocates separation from religious and spiritual concerns.

Antonyms

• Ascetic: A person who practices severe self-discipline and abstains from worldly pleasures.
• Spiritualist: A person who believes in or prioritizes the spiritual realm over the material world.
• Recluse: A person who lives a solitary life, often away from worldly society.

Noun

1. an inhabitant of the earth
2. a person absorbed by the concerns and interests and pleasures of the present world