adj
Uncommon
sinful
SIHNFL
Sinful (adj) means Guilty of, or characterized by, sin; morally wrong. Example: “The preacher warned against sinful temptations.”
adj
1
Guilty of, or characterized by, sin; morally wrong.
"The preacher warned against sinful temptations."
2
Informally, deliciously indulgent or excessive, often about food.
"This chocolate cake is absolutely sinful."
How to use sinful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWicked or morally wrong — or, informally, deliciously over-indulgent.
Common pairings
sinfully rich
sinful pleasure
a sinful dessert
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more sinful, sinfuller
- Superlative
- most sinful, sinfullest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The preacher warned against _____ temptations.
Etymology
It comes from Middle English synful, senful or sunful, which developed from Old English synful (“sinful, guilty, wicked, corrupt”), equivalent to sin plus -ful. Compare Dutch zondevol (“sinful”), German sündevoll (“sinful”), Danish syndefuld (“sinful”), Swedish syndfull (“sinful”), and Icelandic syndfullur (“sinful”).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sinful
See all rhymes for sinful →Frequently asked questions
What does “sinful” mean?
The word “sinful” means guilty of, or characterized by, sin; morally wrong. In plain terms, wicked or morally wrong — or, informally, deliciously over-indulgent.
How do you pronounce “sinful”?
“Sinful” is pronounced SIHNFL (/ˈsɪnfl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “sinful” in a sentence?
Here is “sinful” used in a sentence: “The preacher warned against sinful temptations.”
What part of speech is “sinful”?
“Sinful” is an adjective.
Is “sinful” a common word?
“Sinful” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sinful” have?
“Sinful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: guilty of, or characterized by, sin; morally wrong.
