unholy

adjective

un·​ho·​ly ˌən-ˈhō-lē 

1

: showing disregard for what is holy : wicked

2

: deserving of censure

an unholy alliance

3

: very unpleasant : god-awful

an unholy mess

unholiness noun

Examples of unholy in a Sentence

Our finances were an unholy mess.

They have spent an unholy amount of money on the project.

Recent Examples on the Web

An unholy brew of ownership issues, leadership vacuums, stubbornness, terrible hires and nostalgia forced the orange and blue to spend a decade in the NFL wilderness before Dove Valley tasted the playoffs again. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025

This sound, we’re meant to understand, is the unholy sound that the Yellowjackets have been hearing in the woods. —Erin Qualey, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025

Depp pushes over a cabinet with dishes, rips open her dress and makes a most unholy noise as her eyeballs go up in their sockets, tongue juts out and globs of drool pour from her mouth. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024

Puked, out-duked and oft rebuked this holy day’s unholy hat trick. —Emily St. Martin, Orange County Register, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unholy

• acholi
• emboli
• sertoli
• benzimidazole
• dipyridamole
• itraconazole
• ketoconazole
• metronidazole
• sulfathiazole
• thiabendazole
• carbazole
• gladioli

Kids Definition

unholy

adjective

un·​ho·​ly ˌən-ˈhō-lē 

ˈən-

: not holy : profane, wicked

unholiness noun