sins 1 of 2

noun

plural of sin
1
as in crimes
a breaking of a moral or legal code a child old enough to know that lying is a sin

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2
as in evils
that which is morally unacceptable a minister who worries that modern society has abandoned the concept of sin

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3
as in shames
a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a sin to waste food when people are starving

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4
as in weaknesses
a defect in character my besetting sin is impatience—I hate to wait for anything

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sins

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sin
as in trespasses
to commit an offense bless me, Father, for I have sinned

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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 sins
Noun
Some would argue that Paxton’s sins are more exotic than those of your ordinary Texan. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026 Just before the Devil drawing is a churchman’s confession of a lengthy list of sins. — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026 Of all the sins anyone might accuse Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham) of committing, failing to play his narrative role could never be one of them. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026 Gulliver’s Travels is both summation and rejoinder to the Enlightenment and how innumerable sins can result when the idolatry of reason leads to humans being treated as objects. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026 Lamb, who was once floated for the service’s top job, treats his current position as a kind of penance for past sins, both for himself and for his underlings. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026 In what might be Warner’s only good decision this year, the studio is atoning for its censorship sins by releasing a 4K restoration of the director’s original cut across cinemas. — Juan A. Ramírez, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2026 Per the official logline, in the final season, as the survivors race to bury their sins before rescue arrives and an old flame roars back into town with plans of her own. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 Many crimes, including property crimes like burglary or moral sins such as adultery, were punishable by death in the American colonies. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 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 God’s likeness, which is our true, spiritual identity, never sins and is never punished. — Tony Lobl, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sins
  1. crimes
  2. evils
  3. shames
  4. weaknesses
  5. falls
  6. violations
  7. wrongs
  8. faults
Noun
  • Comparing the administration's fight to protect women and women's spaces from males to rape, is utterly disgusting and actually devalues those atrocities and crimes against actual women.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • McKinney touts the city attorney’s prosecutor role as a means to stem quality-of-life crimes and curb homelessness.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of crimes
Noun
  • Given the end of the world, which is the greater of the two evils?
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
  • One key objection was the mature tone of the narrative, in which the child protagonist is directly confronted and endangered by the evils derived from fascist ideologies.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of evils
Noun
  • While his character jokes casually about the shames of flying commercial, Ruck apologizes several times when referencing that, after 40 years of acting, work trips are often flown first class.
    — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2021
Definition of shames
Noun
  • In parts of society or in businesses, AI could exacerbate existing weaknesses, like extreme income inequality and the loneliness epidemic.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The policy follows security tests that exposed weaknesses in OpenAI’s research infrastructure.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of weaknesses
Verb
  • The water can remain liquid and freeze on contact with the surfaces of an airplane — much like freezing rain falls as liquid and freezes on cars and roads on contact.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Edmonton visits New Jersey, and the spotlight falls squarely on Leon Draisaitl.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of falls
Noun
  • Miami Beach code compliance officers also checked on the polling station at least six times for possible loud music and signage code adherence pertaining to Basabe, although no violations were issued, records show.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • On Tuesday, the Department of Justice will be sending 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states, including Minnesota, to report any voting violations.
    — John Lauritsen, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of violations
Noun
  • The Knicks get their chance to right the wrongs of Ring Night in a rematch with the 76ers in Philly on Friday.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Charlotte has many more chances to right its wrongs, of course, starting with home games Saturday and Monday.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrongs
Noun
  • Defending champion Rybakina hit six aces but needed 11 set points to take the first set in a match that featured erratic serving and a total of 11 double-faults between her and Shnaider.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But for all Vicki’s faults, this season of RHOC is also doing her no favors.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of faults

Browse Nearby Words

sinning
sins
sin tax
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Cite this Entry

“Sins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sins. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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