deadly sins

plural noun

1. the seven sins of pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth.

deadly sins

plural noun

1. theol the sins of pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth

Word History and Origins

Origin of deadly sins¹

1300–50; Middle English deedly synnes

Example Sentences

Wealth has a way of sorting relationships when one friend's opulence brings out lustful envy in the others, the deadly sins most likely to drive daggers into the gut of any platonic bond.

From Salon

“Of the seven deadly sins, all but sloth emerge from the seduction that beckons.”

From Los Angeles Times

Gluttony is one of Christianity’s seven deadly sins.

From BBC

On the surface, the story of Red Lobster’s bankruptcy is about one of the seven deadly sins: gluttony.

From Los Angeles Times

Each cone represents one of the seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride.

From Seattle Times

When To Use

What are the seven deadly sins?

Originating in Christian theology, the seven deadly sins are pride, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, sloth, and wrath.Pride is sometimes referred to as vanity or vainglory, greed as avarice or covetousness, and wrath as anger. Gluttony covers self-indulgent excess more generally, including drunkenness.