godlier; godliest
godliness
noun
godly
adverb
archaic
god·li·ness
-dlēnə̇s,
-lin-
plural -es
: the quality, state, or condition of being godly: such as
a
: piety
especially
: earnest observance of religious duties and virtues
… men obsessed with an idea of godliness and personal purity … —John W. Aldridge, Chronicles, October 1986
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
b
: the state or condition of being divine : godhood sense 2
By employing Biblical names for classes of persons in their society, the rulers of the Gileadean theocracy proclaim their godliness.—Charlotte Templin, Names, September 1993
Cite this Entry
“Godly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/godly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.
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