unearthly

adjective

un·​earth·​ly ˌən-ˈərth-lē 

: not earthly: such as

a

: not mundane : ideal

unearthly love

b

: not terrestrial

unearthly radio sources

c

: preternatural, supernatural

an unearthly light

d

: weird, eerie

unearthly howls

e

: absurd, ungodly

gets up at an unearthly hour

unearthliness noun

Synonyms

• magical
• miraculous
• phenomenal
• preternatural
• superhuman
• supernatural
• supernormal
• transcendent
• transcendental
• uncanny

Examples of unearthly in a Sentence

We left at the unearthly time of 5:00 a.m.

an unearthly knack for picking winning lottery numbers

Recent Examples on the Web

Like its demonic specters, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust endures in the dark, safely packed in boxes available for purchase and waiting for unsuspecting lovers to savor its unearthly delights. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2024

Along with Duccio, these artists produced religious works that still retain their unearthly glow. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 Oct. 2024

Sun, wind, and water sculpted the sandstone into a dramatic, desolate, unearthly landscape of gorges and valleys, inselbergs and stacks, towering tassili and natural arches. —Aminatta Forna, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Aug. 2024

Our engineer, a burly Frenchman named Nicolas Bayou, jerked the door open, and an unearthly cold ripped through the cabin. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unearthly

• unearthly hour/time

Kids Definition

unearthly

adjective

un·​earth·​ly ˌən-ˈərth-lē 

ˈən-

1

: not of or belonging to the earth

unearthly terrain

2

: supernatural sense 2, weird, terrifying

an unearthly scream

unearthliness noun