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

• 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

Such pleasurable pains, at their most chronic, or their most carnal, can keep Lang occupied for the length of a stanza. —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025

The brothers grew up in a household ruled by their mother’s preachings about the sins of lust and carnal desire, per the outlet, which also reports that their father was an alcoholic. —Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025

When Rachel puts the moves on a local boy (Garrett Hedlund), her eyes flash with a kind of carnal appreciation — but for just a second. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025

Each issue centers around the bonds that women form with each other, and in this case, forged vis-à-vis a carnal and violent bloodbath. —Tiffany Leigh, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

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