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
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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
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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
-
Being bitten by Pirate Clark may have been a manifestation of Clark's deepest emotional wounds and desires — or maybe the monster just needed a meal.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
-
Each state may implement Clean Slate laws differently, depending on the balance between public safety and the desire for second chances.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
And if that passion translates to performance, Zoe will someday join her sisters on the national team.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
At school, Turner participated in Future Farmers of America and explored trade skills, eventually discovering a passion for welding.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
30 May 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 6 Jun. 2026.
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