1
as in crimes
a breaking of a moral or legal code
a child old enough to know that lying is a sin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evils
that which is morally unacceptable
a minister who worries that modern society has abandoned the concept of sin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in weaknesses
a defect in character
my besetting sin is impatience—I hate to wait for anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in trespasses
to commit an offense
bless me, Father, for I have sinned
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sins
Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 16 Feb. 2026
The attempt to expunge Andrew and his sins from the Royal Family is interesting insofar as it is doomed.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
But the sins against contestants—and society writ large, for that matter—extend beyond distorted conversations about beauty.
—Hunter Lacey, Allure, 16 Feb. 2026
Most of the revelations in the files have not revealed journalistic sins, but have highlighted uncomfortably close relationships with New York media figures and a man who had been convicted of soliciting a minor.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
The deadline still needs to play out, and Karnisovas has some basketball sins to recover from before this thing trends in the right direction.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
His job isn’t to get Giannis to the playoffs this season; his job is to wipe the slate clean and procure a trade package that erases the sins of the last half-decade (all in pursuit of a second Bucks title) and also secure the next decade-plus of Bucks basketball.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Which draws the attention of another ghost, a French man with a stack of papers documenting the man’s sins.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Whatever your preconceived notions about Feldman are, Hume’s film will expand and challenge them; the movie’s greatness lies in its ability to capture all of Feldman’s contradictions and self-destructiveness, empathizing with him without soft-pedaling his sins.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Philip Elliott, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
Noun
Its roots are in publicly paying penance for serious sins or crimes in the eyes of the church, like adultery or apostasy, which means renouncing the church and its beliefs.
—Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 16 Feb. 2026
The attempt to expunge Andrew and his sins from the Royal Family is interesting insofar as it is doomed.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
But the sins against contestants—and society writ large, for that matter—extend beyond distorted conversations about beauty.
—Hunter Lacey, Allure, 16 Feb. 2026
Most of the revelations in the files have not revealed journalistic sins, but have highlighted uncomfortably close relationships with New York media figures and a man who had been convicted of soliciting a minor.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
The deadline still needs to play out, and Karnisovas has some basketball sins to recover from before this thing trends in the right direction.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
His job isn’t to get Giannis to the playoffs this season; his job is to wipe the slate clean and procure a trade package that erases the sins of the last half-decade (all in pursuit of a second Bucks title) and also secure the next decade-plus of Bucks basketball.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Which draws the attention of another ghost, a French man with a stack of papers documenting the man’s sins.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Whatever your preconceived notions about Feldman are, Hume’s film will expand and challenge them; the movie’s greatness lies in its ability to capture all of Feldman’s contradictions and self-destructiveness, empathizing with him without soft-pedaling his sins.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
John DeWitt, the four-star general who oversaw the internment program, in particular, seems to be a forerunner to some of America's worst errors, paranoia, sins.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sins
Noun
-
Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway had the option to sentence him to life in prison with the chance for parole after at least 25 years, but Thompson did not face the death penalty given his age at the time of the crimes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Despite the prevalence of narcotics crimes, Jacobson alleges that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos does not want to work with other agencies, including Border Patrol and ICE.—
Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The colonists were subject to arbitrary taxation, warrantless searches, standing armies in their homes, and other evils at the hands of the crown.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
15 Feb. 2026
-
As usual, the list of evils leads off with a medical procedure that is never directly condemned in the Bible — and is arguably even sanctioned in Jewish texts when a pregnancy threatens a woman’s health.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Blending technology and old-fashioned instruction Among Colorado’s weaknesses last season, starting pitching was the most glaring.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 Feb. 2026
-
His floor is described as very high due to every-day playing time, a solid lineup role and no glaring category weaknesses.—
Derek VanRiper,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Militants have carried out shooting attacks on troops, and Israel says its strikes are in response to that and other violations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The union filed a grievance on Tuesday, alleging violations to a collective bargaining agreement.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And last year’s wrongs have not yet been righted in any tangible way.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Amid a prediction history that featured 13 wrongs in my first 16 years — how does that even happen?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Barca’s faults, however, went far beyond him.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
These mini-seismic events are not considered true earthquakes because there is no movement along faults or tectonic plate boundaries.—
Tammie Souza,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When night falls over the ship, step into the theater to see a jaw-dropping performance.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The State of Texas must pick up on compassionate border security that picks up where the Federal Government falls short.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Sins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sins. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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