worldling
/'wə:ldliɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An inhabitant of the earth: A being, especially a human, who lives on the planet Earth.
- A person absorbed by the concerns and interests and pleasures of the present world: A person who is deeply engrossed in secular, material, or temporal matters, often to the exclusion of spiritual or intellectual pursuits.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- As a mere worldling, he had little interest in philosophical debates about the afterlife. (This describes a person focused on earthly matters.)
- The monk sought to guide the worldlings toward a more spiritual path. (This refers to people absorbed in worldly concerns.)
- Every worldling must face the realities of life and death. (This uses the term to mean an inhabitant of Earth.)
Advanced Usage
- The term worldling often carries a mildly critical or contrasting tone, implying a focus on the superficial or transient aspects of life compared to more profound, spiritual, or intellectual values.
- The poet contrasted the serene life of the hermit with the frantic pursuits of the worldling.
Variants and Related Words
- Worldly (adj): Of or concerned with material values or ordinary life rather than spiritual or intellectual ones.
- He had a very worldly attitude, always chasing wealth and status.
- Worldliness (n): The quality of being experienced and sophisticated in the ways of the world, often with a focus on material interests.
Synonyms
- Earthling: An inhabitant of the earth. (More neutral, often used in science fiction.)
- Materialist: A person who considers material possessions and physical comfort more important than spiritual values.
- Secularist: A person who advocates separation from religious and spiritual concerns.
Antonyms
- Ascetic: A person who practices severe self-discipline and abstains from worldly pleasures.
- Spiritualist: A person who believes in or prioritizes the spiritual realm over the material world.
- Recluse: A person who lives a solitary life, often away from worldly society.
Noun
- an inhabitant of the earth
- a person absorbed by the concerns and interests and pleasures of the present world