sinful

[ sin-fuhl ]

adjective

1. characterized by, guilty of, or full of sin; wicked:

   a sinful life.

   Synonyms: corrupt, immoral, evil, depraved, iniquitous

sinful

/ ˈsɪnfʊl /

adjective

1. having committed or tending to commit sin

   a sinful person

2. characterized by or being a sin

   a sinful act

Derived Forms

• ˈsinfully, adverb
• ˈsinfulness, noun

Other Words From

• sinful·ly adverb
• sinful·ness noun
• un·sinful adjective
• un·sinful·ly adverb
• un·sinful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinful¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English synfull. See sin ¹, -ful

Example Sentences

That some are inherently sinful and some are inherently saintly.

From Washington Post

They have awoken to a country run by thugs who have banned women from public life, condemned the arts as sinful, and plan to return the nation's soccer stadiums to sights of mass public executions.

From The Daily Beast

We call these undergarments “libido killers” in Cuba because they annihilate any “sinful” desire.

From Washington Blade

So will central themes such as the enduring sting of antisemitism and the push-pull between the sacred and the sinful.

From Washington Post

We expect this judgement to be respected and that for once the oil corporations will accept the truth and bring their sinful flaring activities to a halt.

From Time

Alcohol and sugar, even in moderate amounts, are not only sinful but poisonous.

From The Daily Beast

And now, as a part of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, North Carolina is about to have the sinful practice foisted on it.

From The Daily Beast

It is a festival of joy for being created this way after centuries of being told that we are sinful, loathsome, and disgusting.

From The Daily Beast

“They say that drinking is haram,” or sinful under Islamic law.

From The Daily Beast

The group takes its name from a phrase meaning “Western education is sinful.”

From The Daily Beast

He felt himself the meanest, vilest thing a-crawl upon this sinful earth, and she—dear God!

From Project Gutenberg

Aristide lived on bread and cheese, and foresaw the time when cheese would be a sinful luxury.

From Project Gutenberg

The temple of God shall not protect a sinful people, without a sincere conversion.

From Project Gutenberg

He should not consider himself to be called upon to prohibit only some practices clearly evinced to be sinful.

From Project Gutenberg

A vow may sometimes be sinful, notwithstanding the use of the utmost care to make it in consistency with the calls of duty.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disgraceful
• reprehensible
• shameful