Definition

Adjective: - Experienced in and wise to the ways of the world: Having a lot of experience of life and understanding of how people and society behave, often leading to a practical, sometimes cynical, attitude. It implies knowledge gained from direct experience rather than from formal education.

Usage

This adjective describes a person who is shrewd, practical, and not easily deceived because of their extensive experience with human nature and worldly affairs. It often carries a connotation of being slightly cynical or disillusioned.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • After years of traveling and working in different countries, she became very worldly-wise.
  • His worldly-wise advice helped the young entrepreneur avoid common pitfalls.
  • She gave a worldly-wise smile, having heard such promises many times before.

Advanced Usage

• "to be worldly-wise": to possess practical wisdom from life experience.
  • Despite his youth, he was surprisingly worldly-wise about business negotiations.

Variants and Related Words

• Worldliness (n): The quality of being experienced and sophisticated in matters of the world.
  • His worldliness was evident in his calm handling of the crisis.
• Worldly (adj): Of or concerned with material values or ordinary life rather than spiritual or intellectual ones; also, experienced and sophisticated.
  • He had a worldly perspective on the issue.

Synonyms

• Sophisticated: Having a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion and culture.
• Savvy: Shrewd and knowledgeable; having common sense and practical understanding.
• Seasoned: Experienced through long service or practice.
• Cynical: Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity. (Note: This is a stronger, often negative, connotation sometimes associated with being worldly-wise.)

Antonyms

• Naive: Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.
• Inexperienced: Having little knowledge or experience of a particular thing.
• Innocent: Not guilty of a crime or offense; simple, unsophisticated.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Street-smart: Having the shrewd resourcefulness needed to survive in an urban environment. (This is a close, more informal synonym focusing on practical, often urban, experience.)
• Know the score: To be aware of the essential facts or the true situation.
  • Don't worry about him; he knows the score and can handle himself.

Adjective

1. experienced in and wise to the ways of the world