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
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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
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Anything to cover your Epstein sins.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Vanderpump notices details other guests miss, and bad lighting tops her list of hotel sins.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
Don’t worry about the sins of the past, mistakes of the past, or background or heritage or whatever.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, the boy’s father, Brendan (Wallace), is all in on the notion, perhaps as a way of atoning for his own past marital sins.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Reading Nicholas Mosley’s nonfiction reveals a writer concerned with the sins of the past, with political maneuvering at the highest levels of government, and of personal and ideological betrayals.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
The Agnus Dei begins in glum realization that there may be no compensation for humanity’s great sins when, again astonishingly without expectation, one of Beethoven’s uniquely wondrous melodies takes over.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
This comes as mosques and holy shrines have been important bases for the regime to spread the hardcore ideology its leaders stand by, which bans any kind of dance and music and scorns them as sins -- let alone tolerating them in public or at holy sites.
—Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Philip Elliott, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
Noun
All of these are sins that Trump would likely understand.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Anything to cover your Epstein sins.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Vanderpump notices details other guests miss, and bad lighting tops her list of hotel sins.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
Don’t worry about the sins of the past, mistakes of the past, or background or heritage or whatever.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, the boy’s father, Brendan (Wallace), is all in on the notion, perhaps as a way of atoning for his own past marital sins.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Reading Nicholas Mosley’s nonfiction reveals a writer concerned with the sins of the past, with political maneuvering at the highest levels of government, and of personal and ideological betrayals.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
The Agnus Dei begins in glum realization that there may be no compensation for humanity’s great sins when, again astonishingly without expectation, one of Beethoven’s uniquely wondrous melodies takes over.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
This comes as mosques and holy shrines have been important bases for the regime to spread the hardcore ideology its leaders stand by, which bans any kind of dance and music and scorns them as sins -- let alone tolerating them in public or at holy sites.
—Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 23 Feb. 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
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Casap may never change after ‘horrific’ crimes First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.—
Todd Richmond,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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In his post on Tuesday, the governor compared the case of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence, to that of a former state lawmaker who was recently sentenced to probation and community service after being convicted of one of the same crimes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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During the Iran-Iraq War, the US actively supported Iraq as the lesser of two evils, fearing Iranian victory and hegemony in the Gulf.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 Mar. 2026
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The horror film serves as a gory allegory for the evils that persisted in the South in the Jim Crow era in the late 19th century and onward.—
Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These were analyzing their own strengths and opponents’ weaknesses, forecasting what steps the opponents would take, and making a decision on what to do next.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
This provides an opportunity to investigate the weaknesses of the case for the conflict, along with the possibility of success and the risks of failure.—
David French,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many of those with convictions are for minor offenses, including traffic violations.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Attorney General Ken Paxton warned the Austin Independent School District that it could be fined $5,000 daily for alleged violations of Texas' new bathroom bill.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In 2020, a demand to redress historic wrongs grew following the murder of George Floyd and the national Black Lives Matter movement.—
Ara Rosenthal,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
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The arc of a wrongful-conviction story bends toward exoneration and release—a flawed but heartening correction of past wrongs.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For all their faults, looksmaxxers are intent on de-fetishizing this particular commodity, revealing beauty to be the product of strenuous (and often deranging) labor.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
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Restaurant operators acknowledged their own faults for lengthening the permit process, including by providing incorrect or incomplete information, according to the report.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Iranians also continue to argue over who should lead if the current government falls.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
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The peak falls near a first-quarter moon this year, which bodes well for another bright, impressive shower this year, per the Old Farmer’s Almanac.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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 12 Mar. 2026.
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