1
as in desire
sexual appetite
the Puritans did not condemn concupiscence but rather the satisfaction of it in ways they deemed illicit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lustfulness
intense sexual desire
according to the church theologian St. Augustine, concupiscence is a consequence of original sin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of concupiscence
Through the eyes of a scammer, America is a nation of satyrs and harlots, our concupiscence interrupted only by occasional trips to Walmart or the gas station.
—
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Gregory of Nyssa, contemplating the Christian horror of concupiscence, once theorized that had not Adam and Eve sinned, the two of them would have remained virgins and reproduced in whatever way angels did.
—David Harsanyi, National Review, 8 June 2023
The depictions are disturbingly romantic: seminude invaders among smoldering monuments, preening with bloodlust and concupiscence.
—Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 9 June 2020
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Gregory of Nyssa, contemplating the Christian horror of concupiscence, once theorized that had not Adam and Eve sinned, the two of them would have remained virgins and reproduced in whatever way angels did.
—David Harsanyi, National Review, 8 June 2023
The depictions are disturbingly romantic: seminude invaders among smoldering monuments, preening with bloodlust and concupiscence.
—Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 9 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for concupiscence
Noun
-
The sun in Gemini echoes this sentiment, adding the desire to align with someone special.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
-
An extended chapter of Hector on a shoot in Argentina could stand by itself as a wonderful short story about male ego, vanity, desire and loyalty.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Starring Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a yuppie investment banker whose only real passions are consumerism, dining out, and committing murder, this black comedy and horror fusion satirizes the mass-consumption and performative lifestyle that was a hallmark of the 1980s culture and economy.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
People keep telling me that some amateur astronomers and astrophotographers hate smart telescopes with a passion.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
While the Browns’ lust for draft picks warrants skepticism, because the franchise’s brazen tanking several years ago bore mostly bitter fruit, the inclusion of Verse hedges the bet considerably.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Through the story, New York magazine intended to capture the intersection of danger and lust in gay-male culture in the aftermath of Versace’s death.—
Adam Turner,
Vanity Fair,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Concupiscence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concupiscence. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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