WORLDLY means experienced in life, sophisticated in social ways, or concerned with material rather than spiritual matters. From cosmopolitan travelers to practical wisdom, worldliness represents knowledge gained through living.
Yes. WORLDLY is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 14 points in Scrabble, 15 in Words With Friends and 14 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | W | O | R | L | D | L | Y | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 14 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 14 |
WORLDLY describes someone or something relating to the material world rather than spiritual matters, or characterized by practical experience and sophistication. A worldly person has extensive knowledge of life gained through experience, travel, and social interaction. This adjective captures the essence of being well-versed in the ways of the world. The term encompasses two primary meanings: earthly/material (as opposed to spiritual) and sophisticated/experienced. A worldly person might be a seasoned traveler who speaks multiple languages, understands diverse cultures, and navigates social situations with ease. Conversely, worldly concerns might refer to material possessions, earthly pleasures, or practical matters rather than religious or philosophical pursuits. Aspects of worldliness: Experience: Knowledge gained through living and travel Sophistication: Social awareness and cultural refinement Materialism: Focus on physical rather than spiritual matters Pragmatism: Practical wisdom and street smarts Cosmopolitan: Comfortable in diverse cultural settings
The word worldly comes from Old English woruldlic, combining world (from weorold, meaning "age of man") with the suffix -ly (meaning "having the qualities of"). The root world itself derives from Germanic *weraldi-, literally meaning "age of man" (wer = man + ald = age). The spiritual versus material distinction emerged early in the word's history. Medieval Christian writers used "worldly" to contrast earthly, temporal matters with heavenly, eternal ones. This religious context shaped the word's sometimes negative connotations—worldly pleasures were seen as distractions from spiritual devotion. By the Renaissance, "worldly" gained positive connotations of sophistication and experience. A "worldly gentleman" was educated, traveled, and socially adept. This dual meaning—both "materialistic" and "sophisticated"—persists today. We might criticize someone for being "too worldly" (materialistic) while admiring another's "worldly wisdom" (practical experience).
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of WORLDLY.
Hooks: no front hooks; no back hooks.
Words inside WORLDLY: 39 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: DOWRYROWDYWORDYLOWLYDROLLYLORDLYYOWLDOLLYWORLDWRYYOWDORY. See all words from WORLDLY.