as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
chastised by his minister for his sinful behavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sinful
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
At the age of nine, Lawrence was in a church play about the Book of Jonah and stole the show as a prostitute from the sinful Assyrian city of Nineveh.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 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
The brothers' cousin, Sammie, is torn between his father's advice to stay away from blues music — something his pastor father believes is sinful — and his talent for playing guitar.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sinful
Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
At the age of nine, Lawrence was in a church play about the Book of Jonah and stole the show as a prostitute from the sinful Assyrian city of Nineveh.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 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
The brothers' cousin, Sammie, is torn between his father's advice to stay away from blues music — something his pastor father believes is sinful — and his talent for playing guitar.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sinful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinful
Adjective
-
In addition to being immoral, CFA’s support for BDS likely violates state law, AB 2844, which prohibits California from contracting with entities that engage in discrimination, including against Jews or Israelis.—
Mark Pinkert,
Oc Register,
23 Dec. 2025
-
The film follows the deliciously immoral, widowed Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), who maneuvers, deceives and seduces her way through London and across her relatives' country estates in an effort to find a wealthy husband for herself and her daughter, Frederica (Morfydd Clark).—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
29 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There are several elements in Bridgerton season 4 that resemble the story line of Cinderella, from enchanting balls to gloves and slippers — and even an evil stepmother.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The details in the Russian collusion hoax file is demonic—this is evil stuff.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The unlawful taking of items from a machine or device that is operated or activated by the use of coins.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Mississippi officials have argued that the state law is not preempted, while the RNC has urged the high court to strike down the Magnolia State’s law, along with similar ones in other states, as unlawful.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
No one mourns the wicked, indeed.—
Erin Neil,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The film tells the true and twisted tale of a deceiver of land and folk, who, defying her birth as a woman, comported herself as a man and committed many a wicked deed.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
How heartbreaking, and how vile, that any adult claiming compassion would seek to imbue a child with that extreme allergy to their own self.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The Diary again casts its eye far and wide for news, any news, that might distract us all from the vile toxicity emanating from Washington—make that Davos.—
Chop Choppish Shop,
Air Mail,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That contraction represents a vicious cycle.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Benedict doesn’t realize that the woman who has entirely captured his attention is Sophie, the maid for the formidable Araminta Gun (Katie Leung), aka Lady Penwood and her daughters, the vicious and self-absorbed Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao) and the sweet but simple Posy Li (Isabella Wei).—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Now, but as the statistics and figures come in here in Minneapolis, there's double-digit drops in crime, coupled with a lot of bad people and bad things being taken off of your streets.—
Esme Murphy,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Under President Biden, the FTC and DOJ slowed large transactions, suggesting that all big businesses were bad businesses.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Jim is the only one standing still, staring straight at the camera with his intense, dark-blue eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Small described the shooter as a male who was wearing dark clothing and black and white shoes.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sinful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinful. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
