carnal

1 of 2

adjective

car·​nal ˈkär-nᵊl 

1

a

: relating to or given to crude bodily pleasures and appetites

gluttony and other carnal activities

b

: marked by sexuality

carnal love

2

: bodily, corporeal

seen with carnal eyes

3

a

: temporal

carnal weapons

the superiority of the spiritual and eternal over the carnal

—H. O. Taylor

b

: worldly

a carnal mind

carnality

kär-ˈna-lə-tē 

noun

carnally

ˈkär-nə-lē 

adverb

carnality

2 of 2

noun

car·​nal·​i·​ty kär-ˈna-lə-tē 

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being flesh

matter is not intrinsically corrupt, and carnality is not a sin in Hebrew thought

—O. J. Baab

2

: fleshly lust or its indulgence : sensuality

3

: indulgence of the senses : worldliness

he looked upon my … fight for flesh-colored silk stockings as a form of incomprehensible feminine carnality

—Hannah Smith

4

: a carnal act

specifically : sexual intercourse

dancing has often been denounced as disposing to carnality

Synonyms of carnal

Adjective

• mundane
• temporal
• physical
• terrestrial
• animal
• earthly
• bodily
• worldly

Choose the Right Synonym for carnal

carnal, fleshly, sensual, animal mean having a relation to the body.

carnal may mean only this but more often connotes derogatorily an action or manifestation of a person's lower nature.

gave in to carnal desires

fleshly is less derogatory than carnal.

a saint who had experienced fleshly temptations

sensual may apply to any gratification of a bodily desire or pleasure but commonly implies sexual appetite with absence of the spiritual or intellectual.

fleshpots providing sensual delights

animal stresses the physical as distinguished from the rational nature of a person.

led a mindless animal existence

Examples of carnal in a Sentence

Adjective

the preacher warned that those who were interested only in carnal pursuits would not see the kingdom of heaven

a missionary who tends to the carnal needs of the people as well as to their spiritual concerns

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Misty Roberts, 44, was sentenced June 9 after being found guilty in March of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile, both felonies, according to KPLC, The Guardian and Louisiana Radio Network. —Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026

The former make for an easy snack (carnal or cuisine), while the latter are an even more fleeting annoyance. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 June 2026

The girls follow his trail of tears to Divine (Erika Alexander), a charismatic preacher still in the carnal thrall of her time with their father. —Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026

An intense, carnal need takes over mid-bite into a Loli Farms chicken leg. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French carnel, charnel, from Late Latin carnalis, from Latin carn-, caro flesh; akin to Greek keirein to cut — more at shear

Noun

Middle English carnalite, from Late Latin carnalitas, from Latin carnalis carnal + -itas -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for carnal

• charnel
• darnel

Kids Definition

carnal

adjective

car·​nal ˈkärn-ᵊl 

1

: of or relating to the body

2

: not spiritual : corporeal

3

: sensual sense 1

carnality

kär-ˈnal-ət-ē 

noun

carnally

ˈkärn-ᵊl-ē 

adverb