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fleshly

adjective flesh·ly \ ˈflesh-lē \
|Updated on: 4 Jun 2018

Definition of fleshly

1 a : corporeal, bodily
b : of, relating to, or characterized by indulgence of bodily appetites; especially : lascivious
  • fleshly desires
c : not spiritual : worldly
2 : fleshy 1a
3 : having a sensuous quality
  • fleshly art

See fleshly defined for kids

Examples of fleshly in a Sentence

  1. a time of year when people shouldn't focus on fleshly concerns, but instead on spiritual matters

  2. the fleshly eye sees the only finished painting, but the mind's eye sees the genius behind its creation

Recent Examples of fleshly from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fleshly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of fleshly

before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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fleshly Synonyms

Synonyms

carnal, earthbound, earthly, material, mundane, temporal, terrestrial, worldly;

Antonyms

heavenly, nontemporal, unearthly, unworldly;

Near Antonyms

celestial, Elysian, empyreal, empyrean, supernal;

metaphysical;

devotional, divine, religious, sacred, spiritual, utopian;

extraterrestrial;

ethereal, supernatural, transcendent, transcendental;

Related Words

animal, bodily, corporal, corporeal, physical;

daily, diurnal;

Synonym Discussion of fleshly

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.
    • a slave 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

Learn More about fleshly

  1. See words that rhyme with fleshly Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fleshly Nglish: Translation of fleshly for Spanish speakers

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