carnal

[kahr-nl]

adjective

1. pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual.

   carnal pleasures.

   Synonyms: concupiscent, libidinous, lascivious, lecherous, lustful, bodily

2. not spiritual; merely human; temporal; worldly.

   a man of secular, rather carnal, leanings.

   Synonyms: natural, earthly

carnal

/ ˈkɑːnəl /

adjective

1. relating to the appetites and passions of the body; sensual; fleshly

Other Word Forms

• carnality noun
• carnalness noun
• carnalism noun
• carnally adverb
• hypercarnal adjective
• hypercarnally adverb
• carnalist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin carnālis, equivalent to carn- (stem of carō ) “flesh” + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnal¹

C15: from Late Latin: relating to flesh, from Latin carō flesh

Synonym Study

Carnal, sensual, fleshly, animal all refer to bodily rather than rational or spiritual aspects of humans. Carnal, although it may refer to the body as opposed to the spirit, often refers to sexual needs or urges: carnal cravings, attractions, satisfactions. Sensual implies a suggestion of eroticism: sensual eyes; a sensual dance; it may also refer to experience of the senses: a sensual delight. Fleshly may refer to any physical need or appetite, sex as well as hunger and thirst: the fleshly sin of gluttony; fleshly yearnings. Animal refers to sexual appetites in a censorious way only; it may also describe pleasing or admirable physical characteristics or appearance: animal lust; to move with animal grace.

Example Sentences

Using the same descriptions for carnal matters tends to irritate the pious, but it isn’t improper in the least.

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He sought refuge in the church to escape his own carnal longings and found condemnation everywhere, including in the mirror.

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He told me, “Hey carnal, I’m going to invite you to be on my album.”

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But the texting and blocking, the free-for-all backwaters of the internet and the carnal shenanigans that color contemporary TV teendom do put a different complexion on growing up.

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The next, their gasps and grunts turn carnal, almost violent.

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Related Words

• earthly 
• lewd 
• sensuous 
• wanton