carnal
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual.
carnal pleasures.
- Synonyms:
- concupiscent, libidinous, lascivious, lecherous, lustful, bodily
-
not spiritual; merely human; temporal; worldly.
a man of secular, rather carnal, leanings.
adjective
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
- carnalism noun
- carnalist noun
- carnality noun
- carnally adverb
- carnalness noun
- hypercarnal adjective
- hypercarnally adverb
Etymology
Origin of carnal
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin carnālis, equivalent to carn- (stem of carō ) “flesh” + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Carnal is an adjective meaning "of the flesh." This makes carnal relations a subject that kids want to know more about, but one that both kids and parents may be embarrassed to talk about with each other. Carnal can be used to refer literally to flesh: after lions are done feasting on a downed zebra, vultures might pick over its carnal remains. Another use for carnal is to describe something that is worldly (as opposed to spiritual) — "He didn't have much use for religion, preferring to spend his time on more carnal pursuits."
Vocabulary lists containing carnal
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards
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Body Language: Carn ("Flesh")
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The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But for all his uses of food as a source of carnal provocation and capitalist fracturing, Bong also allows food to be the root of love and community.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2025
Or, ‘Hey carnal, do I go along with the program?’
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2024
Sovjani, whose influences include Wayne Theibaud’s carnal cake and pie paintings, transforms everyday objects into lush exercises in color and form.
From Washington Post • Oct. 28, 2022
They provide a bridge between our carnal nature and their incorporeal institutions.
From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2021
I had not been there half-an-hour before I was offered 34,000 acres of land—abounding with fish and game, and all that the carnal heart could desire—a decided bargain.
From Pictures of Canadian Life A Record of Actual Experiences by Ritchie, J. Ewing (James Ewing)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
