ungodly
gb/ʌŋɡˈɑdli/ us/ʌŋɡˈɑdli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
informal
C1
property
1
at a very unreasonable time
very early or very late in a way that is annoying
Usage pattern:
at an ungodly [hour/time]
Common mistake:
Learners may think it always means ‘not religious’; in everyday speech it often just means ‘ridiculously early/late’.
Synonyms
ridiculous (Common informal alternative; less vivid.)
|
unreasonable (More neutral and less humorous.)
Antonyms
reasonable (Opposite of inconvenient or extreme timing.)
|
civilized (Often used humorously as the opposite in this context.)
Collocations
an ungodly hour
|at an ungodly hour
|some ungodly hour
|wake up at an ungodly hour
|leave at an ungodly hour
|arrive at an ungodly hour
Themes
time
|daily_life
|travel
Examples
- We had to leave at an ungodly hour to catch the first flight.
- She called me at an ungodly hour, so I thought something was wrong.
- The kids were up at an ungodly hour on Christmas morning.
Learner examples
- I woke up at an ungodly hour today.
- Our train leaves at an ungodly hour.
adjective
informal
C1
quantity
2
extremely large or excessive
extremely big or too much
Usage pattern:
an ungodly [amount/price/sum/noise]
Common mistake:
Often used as exaggeration; it usually does not literally refer to religion.
Synonyms
enormous (Neutral; focuses on size rather than exaggeration.)
|
ridiculous (Highlights that it feels too much.)
|
outrageous (Adds a sense of complaint or shock.)
Antonyms
modest (Opposite in size/degree.)
|
reasonable (Opposite of excessive or too much.)
Collocations
an ungodly amount
|an ungodly sum
|an ungodly price
|an ungodly profit
|an ungodly mess
|an ungodly noise
|ungodly expensive
|ungodly hot
|ungodly early
Themes
quantity
|money
|daily_life
Examples
- They charged an ungodly amount for such a small room.
- The landlord wants an ungodly sum for a tiny studio.
- The band made an ungodly noise during soundcheck.
Learner examples
- This phone costs an ungodly amount of money.
- The party made an ungodly noise.
adjective
literary
C1
property
3
morally very bad or evil
very bad and immoral
Usage pattern:
ungodly [deeds/acts/behavior]
Common mistake:
In this sense it is stronger than ‘bad’ and often sounds dramatic or literary.
Synonyms
evil (Direct and common; less religiously colored.)
|
wicked (Often moralistic; can also be playful in other contexts.)
|
sinful (More explicitly tied to religious ideas of sin.)
Antonyms
virtuous (Opposite in moral character.)
|
righteous (Opposite with a moral/religious flavor.)
Collocations
ungodly deeds
|ungodly acts
|ungodly behavior
|ungodly cruelty
|ungodly lust
|ungodly violence
Themes
morality
|religion
|crime
Examples
- The preacher condemned the gang’s ungodly violence.
- The story follows an ungodly ruler who ruins his kingdom.
- She described the scam as an ungodly betrayal of trust.
Learner examples
- He was punished for his ungodly acts.
- They called the crime ungodly.
adjective
formal
C1
property
4
not religious or impious
not believing in God or not respecting religion
Usage pattern:
ungodly [person/ways]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with ‘godless’: ‘ungodly’ can also mean ‘excessive’ in informal speech.
Synonyms
irreligious (Neutral, more modern and less moralizing.)
|
impious (Formal; suggests lack of proper religious respect.)
|
godless (Often more direct and sometimes harsher.)
Antonyms
devout (Opposite in religious commitment.)
|
pious (Opposite in showing religious devotion.)
Collocations
ungodly person
|ungodly people
|ungodly ways
|ungodly generation
Themes
religion
|society
Examples
- In the pamphlet, modern society is blamed for becoming ungodly.
- His relatives considered him ungodly because he never went to church.
- The regime portrayed its opponents as ungodly and dangerous.
Learner examples
- Some people called him ungodly.
- She grew up in an ungodly household.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ungodly
IPA
GB/ʌŋɡˈɑdli/
US/ʌŋɡˈɑdli/
Syllables & stress
un - godly (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (godly)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ungodly
Expressions
at an ungodly hour
1/ˈæt ən ʌŋɡˈɑdli ˈaʊɚ/
idiom
informal
very early or very late
at a very early/late time
Examples
- We set off at an ungodly hour to avoid traffic.
- He showed up at an ungodly hour, waking the whole house.
- The call came at an ungodly hour, so I answered immediately.
at ungodly o'clock
1/ˈæt ʌŋɡˈɑdli oʊklˈɑk/
fixed phrase
informal
at a ridiculously early time
at a very early/late time (joking)
Examples
- I was at the airport at ungodly o'clock this morning.
- She starts her shift at ungodly o'clock every day this week.
- We were on the road at ungodly o'clock to beat the holiday traffic.