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Holiness

n. thoughtful, kind formal

What it means

The state of being sacred, spiritually pure, or devoted to divine purpose.

Reach for it when discussing a religious ideal within a named tradition

Her teaching connected holiness with humility, justice, and care for neighbors.

Words to choose between 6

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
professional
formal
literary

  • everyday

    sacredness

    Fits when being set apart for religious reverence is the plain meaning

    Careful Sacredness can belong to an object or site without implying moral purity.

  • professional

    piety

    Fits when devout belief and observance are visible in conduct

    Careful Piety describes practice or disposition and can exist alongside moral failure.

  • formal

    godliness

    Fits when character is understood as resembling or honoring God

    Careful Godliness presupposes theism, so it mislabels non-theistic accounts of holiness.

  • formal

    sanctity

    Fits when sacred status and protection from violation are central

    Careful Sanctity often applies to a place, life, or principle and does not describe personal devotion fully.

  • literary

    blessedness

    Fits when divine favor or profound spiritual well-being is intended

    Careful Blessedness emphasizes a received state, while holiness can require disciplined conduct.

  • literary

    purity

    Fits when freedom from spiritual defilement is the tradition's emphasis

    Careful Purity language can become exclusionary or confused with bodily, social, or sexual control.

Opposites 3

  • profanity
  • sinfulness
  • corruption

Common phrases 3

  • life of holiness

    The text describes a life of holiness through service rather than withdrawal.

  • call to holiness

    Their call to holiness includes accountability for harm.

  • spiritual holiness

    Spiritual holiness is defined differently across the traditions represented.

Word family 1

Usage notes

Keep in mind

Holiness is tradition-specific; avoid treating one community's theology, purity rules, or devotional practice as universal.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Neskaya, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated