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 The wide-ranging punishments for such sinful behavior could include a prohibition on wearing gold and other precious jewelry, as well as large tithes to monastic orders and the poor. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 June 2025 There’s a sinful sort of glee in watching all of this unfold, knowing that the same mournful character might be the next one to die. David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025 The sinful acts on display here are a direct result of that disenfranchisement, an effort to reclaim what is still owed, forty acres and a mule, with interest. Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025 Pope Gregory, believing these demons to be an indication of Magdalene’s excessively sinful past, identified her as an unnamed woman in Luke who wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair. Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sinful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinful
Adjective
  • The Mann Act, also known as the White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910, is a federal law that prohibits the interstate or foreign transportation of individuals for prostitution or other immoral activities.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 3 July 2025
  • Swaggart, in July 1986, had accused a megachurch rival, New Orleans First Assembly of God Pastor Marvin Gorman, of committing immoral acts with a number of women over a period of years.
    Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • From the twins and their parents to evil fiancées and housekeepers, the characters have gained a cult following since their release, with some fans using them as inspiration for their outfits, summer mood boards, and interior design.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
  • Historically, antisemitic conspiracy theories have revolved around the idea that a shadowy and evil Jewish elite secretly controls the world, and ritualistic child abuse is a common trope within them.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • First, opponents argued that the rule was unlawful and that Congress would need to amend the statute to implement the changes proposed by DHS in its rule.
    Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • He was arrested at 12:22 a.m. Friday for misdemeanor unlawful speeding and driving under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • Tiernan McKinney often works on guitar necks, while Kennedy himself has input along the way on design, wood type, color and the wicked inlays found from top to bottom of each piece.
    Otto Rabe, The Enquirer, 9 July 2025
  • The Judean wilds are full of others seeking clarity, plus a wicked merchant named Musa sent to test and torment the young ascetic from Galilee.
    Mia Barzilay Freund, Vogue, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • The tweets, a vile departure from Elmo’s often inspiring and motivational social media cadence, were sent on July 13 and promptly taken down.
    Zack Sharf, Variety, 14 July 2025
  • Michael Kracker, the chair of the Erie County Republican Committee, posted the image on X, formerly Twitter, describing it as vile.
    Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Over time, this can create a vicious cycle where poor sleep and chronic anxiety feed into each other, creating a loop that damages your well-being.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • There was a scary moment later in the third quarter when Charlotte’s James Banks III hit Sacramento’s Dylan Cardwell with a vicious elbow to the face.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • The alternative — keeping him around, highly paid and not played — would have been worse.
    David Ornstein, New York Times, 22 July 2025
  • So the point is, if things feel especially bad, this is why.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • Transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer Rothbart, Odette and Siegfried's love faces an impossible battle against dark forces.
    Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 22 July 2025
  • The other dark money entity paying for ads that promote a candidate is 5Plus1, which has been spending oodles on billboards and campaign literature mailed to Detroiters that promote Sheffield, the city council president.
    M.L. Elrick, Freep.com, 21 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sinful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinful. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sinful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!