carnal

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

Synonyms of carnal

• 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

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

In the end, every survivor stands alone because what needs to heal is a soul shattered by the trivial evil of carnal greed, a pain so personal and unique even another survivor can’t fully understand it. —Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026

Wasserman was long presumed to be an mere philanthropic acquaintance of the vile and very well connected Epstein (who died in mysterious circumstances in a NYC jail in 2019), the massive document dump by Donald Trump‘s DOJ in late January revealed a carnal 2003 correspondence with Maxwell. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026

In a similar vein, Byredo’s Animalique exudes an equally alluring vibe that’s slightly funkier and more carnal. —Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026

All evidence shows that Chee and Manuelito have engaged in carnal intimacy as the prophets foretold. —Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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