unholy

/ʌnˈhəʊli/ (bre, ipa) · [ənhˈoli] /ʌnˈhəʊli/ (ame, ipa) · [ənhˈoli] /ˌən-ˈhō-lē How to pronounce unholy (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unholy — adjective

  • unholypositive
  • more unholycomparative
  • most unholysuperlative

1. Used for a mix, partnership, or situation whose parts together create something

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Used for a mix, partnership, or situation whose parts together create something especially harmful, ugly, or disturbing.

例句

The report described an unholy alliance between drug gangs and local officials.

collocation: unholy alliance

The town suffered from an unholy mix of smoke, heat, and fear.

pattern: an unholy mix of ...

同義詞
  • toxic

    broader; often used for harmful relationships, environments, or substances

  • dangerous

    names the risk directly, without the idea of several bad forces joining

  • corrupt

    focuses on dishonesty in people or systems, especially public life

反義詞
  • healthy

    suggests a good and beneficial effect rather than a harmful one

  • beneficial

    formal; emphasizes positive results

文法句型

unholy + alliance

an unholy mix of ...

an unholy combination of ...

用法筆記

Most common with nouns such as alliance, mix, marriage, and combination. It suggests separate bad elements become worse when they are joined.

常見錯誤

❌The fridge gave off an unholy smell.
✅The smoke and chemical fumes made an unholy mix.
💡Sense 1 is for bad elements working together; one terrible smell belongs to Sense 2.

2. So bad, harsh, or unpleasant that it feels shocking or hard to bear.

2.形容詞B2
釋義

So bad, harsh, or unpleasant that it feels shocking or hard to bear.

例句

An unholy smell rose from the fridge after the power cut.

collocation: unholy smell

Kofi let out an unholy scream when the spider fell on him.

同義詞
  • awful

    the closest everyday choice for something very bad or unpleasant

  • terrible

    standard and broad; works in many negative situations

  • dreadful

    slightly more old-fashioned or literary in tone

反義詞
  • mild

    describes something low in force or unpleasantness

  • bearable

    focuses on something that can be tolerated

文法句型

unholy + smell

unholy + scream

unholy + headache

用法筆記

Common with nouns naming noise, smell, pain, delay, or hour. It intensifies one bad experience rather than suggesting religion or morality.

常見錯誤

❌The senator formed an unholy alliance with the lobby group.
✅We sat through an unholy delay at the airport.
💡Sense 2 describes one awful experience; harmful partnerships or mixes belong to Sense 1.

3. Not holy, or showing disrespect for religious rules, places, or things treated a

3.形容詞C1
釋義

Not holy, or showing disrespect for religious rules, places, or things treated as sacred.

例句

The priest said the crowd's joke made the prayer sound unholy.

become/sound unholy in a religious setting

Shanti felt uneasy after the unholy ritual started in the dark room.

collocation: unholy ritual

同義詞
  • profane

    formal; contrasts directly with what is holy or sacred

  • sacrilegious

    stronger; emphasizes an offensive act against holy things

  • impious

    formal and literary; focuses on lack of proper religious respect

反義詞
  • holy

    the direct opposite in religious meaning

  • sacred

    often used for places, objects, and practices set apart for worship

文法句型

unholy + ritual

unholy + act

become unholy

用法筆記

Applies when a ritual, place, or act lacks sacred character or crosses a religious boundary. Distinguish it from Sense 4, which can describe secular cruelty with no direct link to worship or holy things.

常見錯誤

❌The guard showed unholy cruelty to the prisoners.
✅The guard showed wicked cruelty to the prisoners.
💡Without a sacred object, prayer, or religious rule, general moral evil belongs to Sense 4.

4. Deeply wicked or shocking in a way that goes beyond ordinary bad behavior.

4.形容詞C1
釋義

Deeply wicked or shocking in a way that goes beyond ordinary bad behavior.

例句

The witness described the guard's unholy cruelty toward hungry prisoners.

collocation: unholy cruelty

Camille saw an unholy joy in the scammer's eyes.

同義詞
  • wicked

    the closest everyday word for deliberate moral evil

  • evil

    stronger and more absolute; suggests deep corruption

  • depraved

    formal; emphasizes shocking moral corruption

反義詞
  • good

    broad opposite for moral behavior

  • virtuous

    formal; emphasizes high moral standards

文法句型

unholy + cruelty

unholy + act

unholy + delight

用法筆記

Usually describes cruelty, delight in suffering, or acts that shock the conscience. Distinguish it from Sense 3, which stays closer to religion, prayer, and sacred rules.

常見錯誤

❌The monks feared an unholy ritual in the cellar.
✅The villagers feared the warlord's unholy delight in torture.
💡Sense 4 focuses on shocking cruelty or evil, not on religious impurity or desecration, which belongs to Sense 3.