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as in shame
a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a sin to waste food when people are starving

Synonyms & Similar Words

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sin

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sin contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sin are crime, offense, scandal, and vice. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

When could crime be used to replace sin?

The synonyms crime and sin are sometimes interchangeable, but crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When would offense be a good substitute for sin?

In some situations, the words offense and sin are roughly equivalent. However, offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

Where would scandal be a reasonable alternative to sin?

While in some cases nearly identical to sin, scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

When is vice a more appropriate choice than sin?

The meanings of vice and sin largely overlap; however, vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sin
Noun
Now the innocent are paying for the sins of a few, but Oct. 7 was Hell on Earth. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 11 June 2025 The fact is, Sinners is not about sin in the religious sense but more about America’s most significant secular violation: its refusal to face itself. Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
Páramo is a perfect hypocrite, sinning freely and then heading to the confession booth to take advantage of his faith’s unlimited forgiveness policy. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2024 This is a man who has probably sinned more times and in more areas of life than any human not currently imprisoned. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for sin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sin
Noun
  • Andy, once a centuries-old immortal who has now lost her healing powers, must race across continents to recover her magic, all the while facing deadly mercenaries and ancient evils.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
  • The motive can be summarized as pure agency, pure evil; in other words, premeditated murder.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • Many people with hypersexual behaviors feel intense feelings of guilt and shame, which can affect their mental health.2 Experts aren’t sure what causes hypersexuality.
    Wendy Wisner, Health, 9 July 2025
  • Here’s an alphabetical list: Demons at Dawn is Julián Hernández’s morning-after romance, a rebuke of the walk of shame that embraces a careerist couple’s need for love.
    Armond White, National Review, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in my responses and give me tips for responding with a problem-solving, curious mindset next time.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • The currency pair is expected to swing both ways as the Taiwan dollar gets caught between speculation of central bank intervention and weakness in the greenback, Lim added.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The teen was with a group of other young people who were trespassing on the Framingham/Worcester Line when the crash occurred, transit police told MassLive.
    Abigail Adams, People.com, 27 June 2025
  • This reclassification grants the Army's U.S. Northern Command expanded authority to enforce immigration laws, including the power to search and temporarily detain those who trespass in the new military zone.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Fans of horror movies and crime thrillers will be intrigued by Get Out and Seven.
    Paulina Jayne Isaac, Glamour, 5 July 2025
  • Cincinnati's recent uptick in crime During a June 24 news conference, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, Police Chief Teresa Theetge and other city leaders acknowledged the unease over crime among Cincinnati residents, particularly in neighborhoods in the urban core.
    Fox19 staff, The Enquirer, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • While working together on The Unit, David Mamet once told you that good drama isn’t a choice between good and bad; good drama is the choice between two bads.
    Max Gao, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Reports out of fall camp haven’t been super favorable to their offense, and while the defense will, again, be top-notch, a team with this bad of an offense cannot be trusted.
    Austin Mock, The Athletic, 19 Aug. 2024
Noun
  • The law aims to curb corruption and undue influence in federal campaigns.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
  • The daughter of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been accused of corruption, misusing public funds, and threatening to assassinate former ally and current president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
    Cecilia Hult, Fortune, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • This is a group of smart, resilient and cheerfully irreverent people who definitely don’t want your pity.
    Anupama Chopra, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
  • Suddenly sitting atop the industry leader, John, Junior regarded Fred Smith with a combination of amusement, disdain or pity.
    Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sin. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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