as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
chastised by his minister for his sinful behavior
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Recent Examples of sinful
Gettin’ sinful all of a sudden.
—
David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Tantric cultural and spiritual traditions, which began to emerge in the early centuries of the Common Era, take a positive perspective on the material world in general and the human body in particular, as opposed to traditions that regard both as inherently illusory or sinful.
—Anya Foxen, The Conversation, 9 Dec. 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.
—Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
There have long been debates in churches about whether just listening to worldly music was sinful, let alone playing it.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sinful
David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Tantric cultural and spiritual traditions, which began to emerge in the early centuries of the Common Era, take a positive perspective on the material world in general and the human body in particular, as opposed to traditions that regard both as inherently illusory or sinful.
—Anya Foxen, The Conversation, 9 Dec. 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.
—Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
There have long been debates in churches about whether just listening to worldly music was sinful, let alone playing it.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sinful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinful
Adjective
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The Michigan State Police said Robert Wilson, 44, of Gaylord, was arrested on March 25 and lodged at the Otsego County Jail on one charge each of accosting a minor for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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When the status quo is fundamentally evil and dysfunctional, then Trimming is immoral.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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After tracking it down almost two decades later, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2026
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Black is reprising his role as the sassy, if evil, Bowser in the sequel.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Heifler was charged with ferdeal counts of unlawful possession of a destructive devices and unlawful making of destructive devices, officials said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Stanford School of Medicine prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Tom is like if Kinnaman’s Holder, from AMC’s adaptation of the Danish drama The Killing, were actually as wicked as everybody suspects him of being, and the actor is having a blast preening and sneering.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
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On this bride’s wedding night, her groom permitted his relatives to sacrifice her to a demon, believing the lore that a wicked spirit named Le Bail gave the family its staggering fortune.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Cinderella with one vile stepsister would be locked in a zero-sum game.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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Other presidents have been partisan; other presidents have exhibited vile behavior.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Surrounded by vicious and violent hitmen that have been pressed into service as childcare, Juan Pablo must reckon with his father's crumbling power and find his own way in the world after his death.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
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This vicious cycle increases until the energy is released essentially in an explosion.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Bernadine appeared to be useless—or, worse, a potential double agent.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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This is very bad for our health.—
Peter D'Oench,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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On the last night that anybody else reportedly saw Nancy, that camera caught a glimpse of a person clad in dark clothes, wearing gloves and a black balaclava, unidentifiable, standing at the threshold.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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Not only did that article form the basis of the film, but Lumet actually took the note and cast Pacino in the role of that dark, thin fellow.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sinful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinful. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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