sinful

adjective

sin·​ful ˈsin-fəl How to pronounce sinful (audio)
1
: tainted with, marked by, or full of sin : wicked
2
: such as to make one feel guilty
a sinful chocolate cake
sinfully adverb
sinfulness noun

Examples of sinful in a Sentence

It is sinful to steal. chastised by his minister for his sinful behavior
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.
And then, on top of it, I was born out of some affair like some illegitimate, sinful mistake? Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025 In New York, the story goes that the sloppily sinful sandwich on rye bread was named for the founder of New York’s Reuben Restaurant. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 16 June 2025 The wide-ranging punishments for such sinful behavior could include a prohibition on wearing gold and other precious jewelry, as well as large tithes to monastic orders and the poor. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 June 2025 There’s a sinful sort of glee in watching all of this unfold, knowing that the same mournful character might be the next one to die. David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sinful

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sinful was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sinful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sinful. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

sinful

adjective
sin·​ful ˈsin-fəl How to pronounce sinful (audio)
: marked by or full of sin : wicked
sinfully adverb
sinfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sinful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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