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
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
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
That relationship was based on sinners confessing their sins to this vicar.
—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
14 June 2026
The cult wants to live off the land and not rely on any technology in the apocalypse, and believes the Cordyceps brain infection was a punishment from God for the world’s sins.
—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
This lifelong Black Catholic bears no illusions about the sins of my church.
—
Laura Washington,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
These days, most red-letter sins in NCAA sports come in gray, and more often invisible ink.
—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
The length exacerbates all the rest of the series' sins, including a lack of emotional depth, gratuitous suffering and violence, long stretches of boring, listless plotting and extraneous characters.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
In time, sins can either be forgiven or forgotten.
—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
For pilgrims, Hajj, performed over five days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins.
—
Baraa Anwer,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
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
Noun
Do not allow the sins of the past to overwhelm, to drown the present.
—
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
That relationship was based on sinners confessing their sins to this vicar.
—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
14 June 2026
The cult wants to live off the land and not rely on any technology in the apocalypse, and believes the Cordyceps brain infection was a punishment from God for the world’s sins.
—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
This lifelong Black Catholic bears no illusions about the sins of my church.
—
Laura Washington,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
These days, most red-letter sins in NCAA sports come in gray, and more often invisible ink.
—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
The length exacerbates all the rest of the series' sins, including a lack of emotional depth, gratuitous suffering and violence, long stretches of boring, listless plotting and extraneous characters.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
In time, sins can either be forgiven or forgotten.
—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
For pilgrims, Hajj, performed over five days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins.
—
Baraa Anwer,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 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
Noun
-
Detectives are continuing an investigation that began weeks ago, Azarcon said, and are analyzing evidence to see whether the six are linked to additional crimes.
-
Megan Swenson, lead stenographer for the Police Department, said her team works with officers and analysts to transcribe the department reports while meticulously reviewing the facts of cases ranging from the highly sensitive violent crimes to routine traffic stops.
Noun
-
So please get ready for a choice of evils.
-
The island village is beset by sea hags, serial killers, creepy clowns and other evils that interfere with Tom’s dream of turning Widow’s Bay into a Martha’s Vineyard-like tourist destination.
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.
Noun
-
Old wounds Natural disasters often expose the strengths—or weaknesses—of state institutions.
-
The companion app can then further the shame by generating reports that highlight your strengths and weaknesses, suggesting areas that might need some work.
Verb
-
Men leaders can pay attention to and be mindful of who in the workplace may be playing more of an emotional support role that falls outside their job description.
-
Royal Week falls ahead of Prince Harry's upcoming trip to the United Kingdom.
Noun
-
Lawyers in the gas station lawsuit assert that technology is enabling antitrust violations.
-
Beijing has and been accused of serious human violations, including large-scale arbitrary detention of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang.
Noun
-
Brian Kilmeade views the semiquincentennial as an opportunity to reflect on the nation's founding courage and vision, while Lawrence Jones highlights America's continuous improvement despite past wrongs.
-
So did two wrongs make a right?
Noun
-
These machines are delicate and prone to faults.
-
The devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela yesterday were most likely caused by a rupture in one of the country’s most active seismic zones — comprising the Boconó and San Sebastián faults, which extend along Venezuela’s northern coast — according to the USGS.
Cite this Entry
“Sins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sins. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
