adjective
unholy
un-HOH-lee/ʌnˈhəʊli/
Offending what is regarded as sacred.
The priest condemns the destruction of the altar as unholy.
Etymology
Halig covered both sacred status and godly character. Negating it therefore gives not only ‘not sacred’ but also ‘impious’ or ‘wicked,’ the stronger moral meaning already found in Old English unhalig.
In context
the devil who had previously worked in the shadows now reveled in being openly worshiped feeding his pride that had been drained by Christ but Satan's Unholy Trinity was not yet complete
More examples
- Worshippers refuse to take part in the unholy ceremony.
- She considers selling sacred relics for profit an unholy act.
- The elders denounce the mockery of their prayers as unholy.
Forms
unholy · unholier · unholiest
unholiness noun — The quality of offending what is sacred.
Similar words
- profane
- Emphasizes disrespect for sacred things rather than moral wickedness.
- sacrilegious
- Specifically describes violating or misusing something regarded as sacred.
- blasphemous
- Focuses on speech or actions that insult God or religion.