Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Concerned with material values and ordinary life rather than spiritual matters: "worldly" describes a focus on the physical, temporal world and its affairs, often in contrast to religious or spiritual concerns.
   • Experienced and sophisticated in the ways of human society: "worldly" can also describe someone who is knowledgeable about life, often through wide experience, sometimes to the point of being jaded or lacking enthusiasm.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • She was more interested in worldly success than in spiritual enlightenment. (Her focus was on material achievements.)
  • His worldly wisdom came from years of traveling and dealing with different cultures. (His sophistication was gained through extensive life experience.)
  • The monk renounced all worldly possessions. (He gave up all material belongings.)

Advanced Usage

• "worldly-wise": Experienced in the ways of the world and therefore shrewd or prudent.
  • His worldly-wise advice helped the young diplomat navigate the complex negotiations.
• "worldly goods": Material possessions or wealth.
  • They lost all their worldly goods in the fire.

Variants and Related Words

• Worldliness (noun): The quality of being concerned with material or earthly affairs.
  • His worldliness prevented him from understanding their ascetic lifestyle.
• Otherworldly (adjective): Concerned with spiritual or intellectual matters rather than the physical world; the opposite of "worldly."
  • She had an otherworldly calm about her.

Synonyms

• Temporal: Relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs.
• Secular: Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.
• Sophisticated: Having, revealing, or proceeding from a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion and culture.
• Blasé: Unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before.

Antonyms

• Spiritual: Relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.
• Unworldly: Lacking sophistication or experience of the world; naive.
• Ascetic: Characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Worldly cares": The worries and concerns associated with material life.
  • He sought refuge in the monastery to escape worldly cares.
• "Worldly-minded": Having materialistic concerns and interests.
  • His worldly-minded pursuit of wealth left little room for family.

Adjective

1. very sophisticated especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world
   • the blase traveler refers to the ocean he has crossed as `the pond'
   • the benefits of his worldly wisdom
2. characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world
   • worldly goods and advancement
   • temporal possessions of the church