sinful

adjective

ˈsin-fəl How to pronounce sinful (audio)
Definition of sinfulnext
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable chastised by his minister for his sinful behavior

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Bowing down and worshiping an idol is sinful. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026 Efficiency is religion, and turnovers are almost sinful. — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 6 May 2026 Christian moralists thundered against the sinful pleasures of watching naked female flesh at the Spectacles. — Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026 His father, who believes Sammie's music to be sinful, orders him to drop the guitar, but Sammie can't do it. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sinful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinful
  1. immoral
  2. evil
  3. unlawful
  4. wicked
  5. vile
  6. vicious
  7. bad
  8. dark
Adjective
  • And in a world increasingly populated by people who are absolutely certain that everyone who disagrees with them is either ignorant or immoral, our universities could use considerably more of all three.
    — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Central to the exhibition is the tension between the honorable and the immoral, the appealing and the revolting.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of immoral
Adjective
  • What Baldwin is lamenting is our tendency to fall back on binaries — right and wrong, good and evil — rather than to struggle with complexity.
    — David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • It's based on a Russian fairy tale called the Firebird, which is about a young prince who rescues a coterie of princesses from an evil sorcerer.
    — Libby Smith, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of evil
Adjective
  • The complaint seeks a declaration that DeWine’s executive order is unlawful.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Paporakis faces one felony count of making a terrorist threat and one felony count of unlawful possession of a weapon.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • From glittering ghosts, ghastly goblins and wicked witches to wily warlocks, fashion can inspire any Halloween transformation.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Well known for his wicked sense of humor, O’Donnell traveled to Russia, China and elsewhere to train local writers and directors in the art of the American sitcom.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of wicked
Adjective
  • Prosecutors reveal Ha used anonymous social media accounts to send dozens of vile antisemitic threats, leaking the victim’s home address and forcing their family to flee.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • New additions include singer Tank, who plays vile music exec Eric Cropper and Jax’s main client, Beauty in Black star Taylor Polidore Williams as Eric’s wife Brooke, La La Anthony as Eric’s first wife Melina, and then Megan Good as Regina Harris.
    — Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of vile
Adjective
  • So too, the possibility of Rollerball-style carnage carnivals where robots compete in vicious cage matches until only one android is still moving.
    — Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Cash reserves totaling $ 7,450,869 are being used to eviscerate his opponent with a vicious barrage of ad hominem assaults, thus giving him a 61 to 1 spending edge.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • High oil prices are bad for Asia, which imports most of its fuel.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Futures are worse, Asia closed deep in the red, and Europe is also broadly lower.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Connie Britton and Sam Nivola lead the series created by Nick Paley that blends mystery, dark comedy and the awkwardness of adolescence.
    — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of dark

Browse Nearby Words

sinfoniettas
sinful
sinfully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sinful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinful. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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