You use unholy to emphasize how unreasonable or unpleasant you think something is.
[emphasis]
She protested that it wasn't traditional jazz at all, but an unholy row.
The economy is still an unholy mess.
Synonyms: shocking [informal], awful, appalling, dreadful More Synonyms of unholy
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you refer to two or more people or groups working together as an unholy alliance, you mean that this arrangement is unusual because the people usually oppose each other.
[disapproval]
There has been this unholy alliance between the far right and the left.
The party was run by an unholy coalition between North and South.
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe something as unholy, you mean that it is wicked or bad.
'This ought to be fun,' he told Alex, eyes gleaming with an almost unholy relish.
He screamed unholy things at me.
Synonyms: evil, vile, wicked, base More Synonyms of unholy
unholy in British English
(ʌnˈhəʊlɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: -lier or -liest
1.
not holy or sacred
2.
immoral or depraved
3. informal
outrageous or unnatural
an unholy alliance
Derived forms
unholiness (unˈholiness)
noun
unholy in American English
(ʌnˈhoʊli)
adjectiveWord forms: unˈholier or unˈholiest
1.
not sacred, hallowed, or consecrated
2.
wicked; profane; impious
3. Informal
outrageous; dreadful
Derived forms
unholiness (unˈholiness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE unhalig < un-, not + halig, holy
Examples of 'unholy' in a sentence
unholy
Two very special champions together can sometimes be an unholy mix.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And what an unholy mess it is making of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Trade and war were the unholy twins of commerce.
Malcolm Balen A VERY ENGLISH DECEIT: The Secret History of the South Sea Bubble and the First GreatFinancial Scandal (2002)
But the unholy row did not end there.
The Sun (2011)
How can he claim to be so devout and holy when he is intent on wreaking unholy war?
The Sun (2010)
It is certainly an unholy mix.
The Sun (2006)
The result is an unholy mess.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Maybe one day the good will rise up against the bad and then there will be an unholy mess to clear up.
The Sun (2008)
Young and old, in unholy alliance.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The unholy alliance of vested interests pushing the scheme through was far too powerful and well-connected.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The result is not quite an unholy mess, but it comes close.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
For investors, it is an unholy mess.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
As things stand, it all still looks an unholy mess.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is holding its annual conference in west London tomorrow where an unholy row is brewing between two otherwise natural allies.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We make an unholy mess in the kitchen, leave our clothes strewn up the stairs and go to sleep in the small hours.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And when that rough forms an unholy alliance with the wind, low scoring becomes impossible and survival depends on finding the fairway from the tee.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The new generation is what can be seen as an unholy alliance (unholy for the defending side) of power and skill.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It would then be up to the government of the day, rather than an unholy bidding war, to determine which would be chosen.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
1 (adjective)
Definition
outrageous or unnatural
(informal)
The economy is still in an unholy mess.
Synonyms
shocking (informal)
I must have been in a shocking state last night.
awful
Even if the weather's awful there's still lots to do.
appalling
They have been living under the most appalling conditions.
dreadful
They told us the dreadful news.
outrageous
I must apologize for my friend's outrageous behaviour.
horrendous
The violence used was horrendous.
unearthly
They arranged to meet at the unearthly hour of seven in the morning.
ungodly (informal)
at the ungodly hour of 4.00am
2 (adjective)
Definition
immoral or wicked
He screamed unholy things at me.
Synonyms
evil
the country's most evil criminals
vile
a vile and despicable crime
wicked
She flew at me, shouting how evil and wicked I was.
base
Love has the power to overcome the baser emotions.
corrupt
immoral
It is immoral to persist with a system that impoverishes so many people.
dishonest
sinful
He reminded us that such behaviour was sinful in the eyes of God.
heinous
depraved
It has been condemned as the most depraved film of its kind.
profane
He had a reputation as profane and bad-tempered.
iniquitous
an iniquitous fine
ungodly
My folks had nothing to do with ungodly people.
irreligious
The priest's conversational style was regarded as most irreligious.
Opposites
godly
,
religious
,
holy
,
devout
,
pious
,
virtuous
,
saintly
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appalling
Definition
causing dismay, horror, or revulsion
They have been living under the most appalling conditions.
Synonyms
horrifying,
shocking (informal),
terrible,
alarming,
frightening,
scaring,
awful,
terrifying,
horrible,
grim,
dreadful,
intimidating,
dismaying,
horrific,
fearful (informal),
daunting,
dire,
astounding,
ghastly,
hideous,
shameful,
harrowing,
vile,
unnerving,
petrifying,
horrid,
unspeakable,
frightful,
nightmarish,
abominable,
disheartening,
godawful (slang),
hellacious (US, slang),
from hell (informal)
in the sense of awful
Even if the weather's awful there's still lots to do.
Synonyms
bad,
poor,
terrible (informal),
appalling,
foul,
rubbish (slang),
shit (taboo, slang),
dreadful,
unpleasant,
dire,
crap (taboo, slang),
horrendous,
ghastly,
from hell (informal),
atrocious,
deplorable,
abysmal,
frightful,
shite (taboo, slang),
hellacious (US, slang)
in the sense of base
Definition
dishonourable or immoral
Love has the power to overcome the baser emotions.
Synonyms
dishonourable,
evil,
corrupt,
infamous,
disgraceful,
vulgar,
shameful,
vile,
immoral,
scandalous,
wicked,
sordid,
abject,
despicable,
depraved,
ignominious,
disreputable,
contemptible,
villainous,
ignoble,
discreditable,
scungy (Australian, New Zealand)
Nearby words of
unholy
unhesitating
unhinge
unhinged
unholy
unhoped-for
unhurried
unhurt
Synonyms of 'unholy'
unholy
Explore 'unholy' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of depraved
Definition
morally bad
It has been condemned as the most depraved film of its kind.
Synonyms
corrupt,
abandoned,
perverted,
evil,
vicious,
degraded,
vile,
degenerate,
immoral,
wicked,
shameless,
sinful,
lewd,
debased,
profligate,
debauched,
lascivious,
dissolute,
licentious,
pervy (slang)
in the sense of dreadful
Definition
extremely disagreeable or shocking
They told us the dreadful news.
Synonyms
terrible,
shocking (informal),
awful,
alarming,
distressing,
appalling,
tragic,
horrible,
formidable,
fearful (informal),
dire,
horrendous,
hideous,
monstrous,
from hell (informal),
grievous,
atrocious,
frightful,
godawful (slang),
hellacious (US, slang)
in the sense of horrendous
Definition
very unpleasant or shocking
The violence used was horrendous.
Synonyms
horrific,
shocking (informal),
appalling,
frightening,
awful,
terrifying,
grim,
dreadful,
horrifying,
ghastly,
grisly,
frightful,
hellacious (US, slang)
in the sense of immoral
Definition
sexually depraved or promiscuous
It is immoral to persist with a system that impoverishes so many people.
Synonyms
wicked,
bad,
wrong,
abandoned,
evil,
corrupt,
vicious,
obscene,
indecent,
vile,
degenerate,
dishonest,
sinful,
unethical,
lewd,
depraved,
impure,
debauched,
unprincipled,
nefarious,
dissolute,
iniquitous,
reprobate
in the sense of iniquitous
an iniquitous fine
Synonyms
wicked,
base,
criminal,
evil,
vicious,
infamous,
immoral,
unjust,
atrocious,
sinful,
heinous,
reprehensible,
abominable,
nefarious,
accursed,
unrighteous,
reprobate
in the sense of irreligious
Definition
indifferent or opposed to religion
The priest's conversational style was regarded as most irreligious.
Synonyms
sacrilegious,
irreverent,
profane,
blasphemous,
wicked,
sinful,
unholy,
iconoclastic,
ungodly,
impious,
unrighteous,
undevout
in the sense of outrageous
Definition
unusual and shocking
I must apologize for my friend's outrageous behaviour.
Synonyms
atrocious,
shocking,
terrible,
violent,
offensive,
appalling,
cruel,
savage,
horrible,
beastly,
horrifying,
vicious,
ruthless,
infamous,
disgraceful,
scandalous,
wicked,
barbaric,
unspeakable,
inhuman,
diabolical,
heinous,
flagrant,
egregious,
abominable,
infernal,
fiendish,
villainous,
nefarious,
iniquitous,
execrable,
godawful (slang),
hellacious (US, slang)
in the sense of profane
Definition
showing disrespect for religion or something sacred
He had a reputation as profane and bad-tempered.
Synonyms
sacrilegious,
wicked,
irreverent,
sinful,
disrespectful,
heathen,
impure,
godless,
ungodly,
irreligious,
impious,
idolatrous
in the sense of sinful
Definition
being a sin
He reminded us that such behaviour was sinful in the eyes of God.
Synonyms
wicked,
bad,
criminal,
guilty,
corrupt,
immoral,
erring,
unholy,
depraved,
iniquitous,
ungodly,
irreligious,
unrighteous,
morally wrong
in the sense of unearthly
Definition
ridiculous or unreasonable
They arranged to meet at the unearthly hour of seven in the morning.
Synonyms
unreasonable,
ridiculous,
absurd,
strange,
extraordinary,
abnormal,
unholy (informal),
ungodly (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ungodly
Definition
unreasonable or outrageous
at the ungodly hour of 4.00am
Synonyms
unreasonable,
outrageous,
unearthly,
dreadful,
horrendous,
intolerable,
unseemly,
unholy (informal)
in the sense of ungodly
Definition
wicked or sinful
My folks had nothing to do with ungodly people.
Synonyms
wicked,
corrupt,
sinful,
vile,
immoral,
depraved,
profane,
blasphemous,
godless,
irreligious,
impious
in the sense of vile
Definition
morally wicked
a vile and despicable crime
Synonyms
wicked,
base,
evil,
mean,
bad,
low,
shocking,
appalling,
ugly,
corrupt,
miserable,
vicious,
humiliating,
perverted,
coarse,
degrading,
worthless,
disgraceful,
vulgar,
degenerate,
abject,
sinful,
despicable,
depraved,
debased,
loathsome,
contemptible,
impure,
wretched,
nefarious,
ignoble
in the sense of wicked
Definition
morally bad
She flew at me, shouting how evil and wicked I was.