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

Other Word Forms

• sinfulness noun
• sinfully adverb
• unsinful adjective
• unsinfully adverb
• unsinfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinful¹

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

Example Sentences

But the future president of the United States has a far less heavenly opinion, predicting in a fiery campaign address that the “sinful” city will be destroyed by an earthquake “in divine retribution.”

From Los Angeles Times

While time has softened the tradition, Rojas’ decree is a way to relieve people from feeling as though they are doing something sinful if they’re afraid to attend Mass.

From Los Angeles Times

“Like gossip, the spreading of rumors is sinful, and we should all work to overcome this tendency of our fallen human nature,” the letter said.

From Los Angeles Times

Far-right conservatives have taken a hard turn against empathy, with Christian Nationalists declaring it to be more sinful than righteous.

From Salon

Dr Farooq feels taking your own life is wrong, and so, he says, it would be "sinful" for him to be involved in that process - even indirectly.

From BBC

Related Words

• disgraceful 
• reprehensible 
• shameful