w-o-r-l-d-l-y
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.
14
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
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:
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).
•The phrase "worldly wise" first appeared in 1550s literature
•Medieval monks took vows to reject "worldly" possessions and pleasures
•"Worldly goods" legally means all of someone's material possessions
•WORLDLY contains W (4 pts) and Y (4 pts)—high-value consonants for scoring
"Her worldly sophistication came from years of international travel and business."
"The monastery encouraged monks to abandon worldly concerns and focus on prayer."
"Despite his youth, he possessed a worldly wisdom that impressed the board."
Words with similar meaning
Sophisticated
Culturally refined
Experienced
Knowledgeable
Cosmopolitan
Internationally minded
Secular
Non-religious
Words with opposite meaning
Spiritual
Religious minded
Naive
Inexperienced
Provincial
Limited outlook
Unworldly
Not worldly
Noun Form
worldliness
Her worldliness impressed them.
Adverb Form
worldly
He spoke worldly of politics.
Comparative
worldlier
She became worldlier with age.
Related Terms
Experienced in life
Cultured refinement
Practical wisdom
Shorter words within WORLDLY:
Throughout history, many religions have contrasted the "worldly" with the "spiritual." Christianity distinguishes between worldly (temporal) and heavenly (eternal) concerns. Buddhism sees worldly attachments as sources of suffering. This dichotomy shaped Western thought, where monastics renounced worldly goods while merchants embraced them. The Protestant work ethic later reconciled worldly success with spiritual virtue.
The Renaissance ideal of the "worldly gentleman" combined education, travel, and social grace. Unlike medieval knights focused on martial prowess, these cosmopolitan figures spoke multiple languages, appreciated art, understood commerce, and navigated court politics. Today's "global citizen" echoes this ideal—someone comfortable anywhere, understanding diverse perspectives while maintaining sophisticated judgment.
In our interconnected age, worldliness takes new forms. Digital natives possess a different worldly wisdom—understanding global trends, navigating virtual spaces, and code-switching between online communities. Yet the core remains: worldliness means understanding how the world actually works, whether that's international finance, social media algorithms, or cross-cultural communication.
Worldly vs. Worldly-wise
Material focus vs. experienced
Worldly vs. Global
Experienced vs. worldwide
Worldly vs. Secular
Experienced vs. non-religious
WORLD
The earth and life
WISE
Having wisdom
GLOBAL
Worldwide scope
MATERIAL
Physical substance
SECULAR
Non-religious
TEMPORAL
Of time, earthly
MUNDANE
Ordinary, earthly
SPIRITUAL
Of the spirit
EARTHLY
Of this earth
MATERIALIST
Values material things
Other valuable sophistication-related words in Scrabble
Total base points: 14 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 1 | Consonants: 6
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like WORLDLY