# godless

/ˈɡɑdɫəs/ (US) · /ɡˈɒdləs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/godless
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. without religion

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

not believing in any god or not following any religion.

For teachers: lacking a belief in a deity or not acknowledging any god; secular or atheistic in nature.

- The philosopher lived a godless life, focusing only on science and logic.
- The regime attempted to establish a godless society by systematically dismantling religious institutions and promoting state-sponsored secularism.

Usage: Often used in a critical way by religious speakers to describe secular environments.

### 2. wicked or evil

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary · Informal

very bad, cruel, or evil.

For teachers: morally reprehensible or wicked; used as a strong pejorative to describe behavior seen as violating moral laws.

- It was a godless act of violence that shocked the entire community.
- The editorial condemned the godless greed of the corporations that exploited the town's natural resources without regard for the residents.

Usage: In informal contexts, it functions as an intensifier for negative behavior.

## Examples

- He was called a godless man for his cruel behavior.
- The politician was criticized for his godless lifestyle, which many felt was incompatible with his public policy goals.
- The novel explores the tension between a godless society and the traditional values that once defined the community's social fabric.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.