carnal

adjective

car·​nal ˈkär-nᵊl How to pronounce carnal (audio)
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 carnalH. O. Taylor
b
: worldly
a carnal mind
carnality noun
carnally adverb
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Married to Stanley, a man of carnal appetites and vulgar manners, Stella has embraced the crude pleasures of realism, while her freeloading sister still clings to tattered aristocratic illusions. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 That disconcerting closeness of the cosmic and carnal was par for the course for Combs, an altar boy turned entrepreneur whose career is a monument to these and other striking dualities. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2024 Unfortunately, the singer’s obsessions with Atlanta culture and carnal desire led to a momentum-killing sequence that briefly sent the concert off the rails. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024 But only in the closing moments are there flashes of the carnal flame that should fuel this classic. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for carnal 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of carnal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near carnal

Cite this Entry

“Carnal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnal. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

carnal

adjective
car·​nal ˈkärn-ᵊl How to pronounce carnal (audio)
1
: of or relating to the body
2
: not spiritual : corporeal
3
carnality noun
carnally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on carnal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!