unearthly

unearthly — adjective

1. describes a time of day that is unreasonably early or late, causing inconvenienc

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a time of day that is unreasonably early or late, causing inconvenience — for example, a meeting booked for five a.m. or a phone call that comes after midnight.

例句

Min had to catch a flight at the unearthly hour of four in the morning.

collocation: unearthly hour

The landlord called Aylin at an unearthly hour to complain about the noise.

同義詞
  • ungodly

    more informal and slightly stronger annoyance — 'an ungodly hour of the morning'

  • ridiculous

    broader in meaning; can apply to any unreasonable thing, not just time

反義詞

用法筆記

Almost always used with 'hour' or 'time' in the pattern 'at an unearthly hour/time'. Often appears in complaints about early-morning travel, late-night calls, or unreasonable scheduling.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting was at an unearthly time in the afternoon.
✅The meeting was at an unearthly hour in the morning.
💡'unearthly hour' typically describes very early morning (before 6 a.m.) or late night (after 11 p.m.), not an ordinary afternoon.
❌She has an unearthly beauty.' (when meaning she looks strange/eerie)
✅She has an unearthly beauty.' (only correct if meaning transcendent beauty)
💡Sense 1 is about time only; using it for appearance is a different sense.

2. having a quality that feels odd, mysterious, or supernatural, often making you u

2.形容詞B2
釋義

having a quality that feels odd, mysterious, or supernatural, often making you uneasy — like an eerie glow in an empty room or a sound that seems to come from nowhere.

例句

An unearthly glow filled the hallway, though no one could find the source.

collocation: unearthly glow

Gabriel heard an unearthly howl coming from the forest behind the cabin.

同義詞
  • eerie

    focuses more on the frightening aspect — 'an eerie silence'

  • uncanny

    suggests something strange because it is beyond what is normal — 'an uncanny resemblance'

  • supernatural

    more direct about a non-human or magical cause — 'supernatural powers'

  • otherworldly

    suggests something from another world or dimension — 'an otherworldly landscape'

反義詞
  • normal

    ordinary and expected

  • natural

    belonging to the observable world

用法筆記

Common with nouns of light, sound, and atmosphere (glow, light, howl, silence, stillness). Not used for ordinary strangeness — implies an almost supernatural quality.

常見錯誤

❌The joke was so bad, an unearthly silence followed.
✅The joke was so bad, an awkward silence followed.
💡'unearthly silence' suggests a mysterious or supernatural quiet, not just social awkwardness.

3. so beautiful, pure, or inspiring that it seems to belong to a world beyond ordin

3.形容詞C1
釋義

so beautiful, pure, or inspiring that it seems to belong to a world beyond ordinary human experience — like a voice that feels heavenly or a landscape that makes you forget the everyday world.

例句

The soprano's voice had an unearthly beauty that moved the entire audience to tears.

collocation: unearthly beauty

Devika spoke of the unearthly peace she felt during her meditation in the mountains.

同義詞
  • transcendent

    more formal, emphasizing going beyond ordinary limits — 'transcendent beauty'

  • ethereal

    suggests extreme delicacy and lightness, as if not of this world — 'ethereal music'

  • sublime

    of such excellence that it inspires awe — 'sublime scenery'

反義詞

用法筆記

Typically modifies abstract nouns such as 'beauty', 'peace', 'light', 'stillness', 'grace'. Unlike Sense 2, there is no frightening or uneasy feeling — the tone is reverent or awe-inspired. More common in literary and formal writing than in conversation.

常見錯誤

❌The haunted house had an unearthly atmosphere.' (when meaning scary)
✅The haunted house had an eerie atmosphere.
💡If you mean frightening, use Sense 2; Sense 3 is reserved for sublime, spiritual, or transcendent beauty.