cardinal sin

noun

: a very bad or serious sin in Christianity
often used figuratively or humorously
Giving false information is a cardinal sin in news reporting.
He committed the cardinal sin of criticizing his boss.

Examples of cardinal sin in a Sentence

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To lose it is the cardinal sin in Hollywood. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025 The nutria’s cardinal sin, however, is gluttony. Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 The stunts here are purportedly real, though, and each is tied, sometimes tenuously, to a cardinal sin. Hilton Als, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025 Bondi has committed the cardinal sin of embarrassing Trump. Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2025 And the very thought of chucking a book into the garbage simply because of its unsightly cover, or lack thereof, is a cardinal sin. Peter Wortsman july 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025 However, limiting sales to winners is a cardinal sin of managing a portfolio. Jeff Marks, CNBC, 8 July 2025 That has always been considered a cardinal sin in the sport. Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025 His cardinal sin was nationalizing (not expropriating) the hugely profitable Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in 1951 which British Prime Minister Winston Churchill postulated was integral to the British Navy. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2025

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“Cardinal sin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardinal%20sin. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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