EARTHLY Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'earthly' distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words mundane and worldly are common synonyms of earthly . While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual. // abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

Q: When is 'mundane' a more appropriate choice than 'earthly'?

In some situations, the words mundane and earthly are roughly equivalent. However, mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical. // a mundane discussion of finances

Q: How are the words 'worldly' and 'mundane' related as synonyms of 'earthly'?

Worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification. // worldly goods

earthly

adjective

ˈərth-lē

Definition of earthly

as in temporal

having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven a sermon against our obsession with earthly pursuits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word earthly distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words mundane and worldly are common synonyms of earthly. While all three words mean "belonging to or characteristic of the earth," earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

When is mundane a more appropriate choice than earthly?

In some situations, the words mundane and earthly are roughly equivalent. However, mundane suggests reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

How are the words worldly and mundane related as synonyms of earthly?

Worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification.

worldly goods

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of earthly People at the most senior levels of the government have no earthly idea what's being discussed inside the White House, inside the Oval Office and the Situation Room. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 23 June 2026 The British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge, who converted to Christianity late in his life, pointed out that Jesus’s entire ministry was directed against the pretensions of earthly power. — Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 During the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, both Martin Luther and John Calvin distinguished spiritual from earthly authority and called for a division of labor between the two. — Steven K. Green, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 Some of this can be put down to the production; Kartel’s longtime collaborator and established hitmaker TJ Records conjures a palette more suited to the trebly ionosphere of Spotify streams than the groundshaking speaker stacks that once fortified dancehall’s earthly domain. — Edwin “stats” Houghton, Pitchfork, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for earthly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for earthly

Adjective

This enables researchers to track spatial and temporal trends for many Wisconsin species, such as black bears, bobcats, coyotes, opossum and raccoons.

— Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Though editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis (a Yorgos Lanthimos regular) cuts the film with brisk concision, there’s also a welcome temporal elasticity here — the sense that life can change in the blink of an eye, but also stall for undefined passages.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 June 2026

Definition of temporal

Adjective

Now, new research may rewrite the definition of these planets that make the solar system look a little bit mundane.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 July 2026
However, Mamdani wasted no time putting his stamp on the relatively small Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), which is tasked with comparatively mundane administrative duties of issuing shooting permits to film and TV productions.

— Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 30 June 2026

Definition of mundane

Adjective

The terrestrial fueling hardware designed for the Artemis program’s Space Launch System rockets simply cannot function in an orbital environment.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
The remaining planetesimals that did not form into the terrestrial planets are the asteroids of today, left to orbit the inner portion of the solar system.

— Adam Lark, Scientific American, 28 June 2026

Definition of terrestrial

Adjective

Balogun crashed into Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemović, landing his foot on top of Muharemović’s during the physical match.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Hawaiian Tropic’s zinc oxide formula, a physical UV blocker, brushes on with a matte, translucent finish and leaves no white cast on most skin tones.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 1, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Definition of physical

Adjective

Computer models and other non-animal testing methods still aren’t the best available science, critics contend.

— Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
The charity reports a 70% increase in multi-animal incidents across England and Wales since 2021, defining such cases as those involving 10 or more animals.

— Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026

Definition of animal

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earthlike

earthly

earthquake

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“Earthly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earthly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of earthly

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