Word
sinful
Phoneticssin·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɪnfəɫ/
UK/sˈɪnfəl/
Definitions
01morally or religiously wrong
B2 · Upper Intermediate Religion
adj. describing an action that is considered very bad or evil because it breaks religious or moral rules.
adj. constituting a sin; morally reprehensible or in violation of religious law.
“In many cultures, lying to your parents is considered a sinful act.”
“The preacher spoke at length about the sinful nature of greed and its destructive impact on the community.”
02guilty of sin
C1 · Advanced Religion Formal
adj. describing a person who has done something wrong according to their religion.
adj. having committed a sin; in a state of moral or spiritual guilt.
“The man felt sinful after he realized he had treated his neighbors poorly.”
“The protagonist spent the rest of the novel trying to redeem his sinful past through acts of charity.”
Synonyms
03deliciously indulgent
B2 · Upper Intermediate Cooking Informal · Humorous
adj. describing something, usually food, that is so rich and tasty that you feel a little guilty for enjoying it.
adj. highly indulgent or decadent; typically used to describe rich foods that are high in calories or luxury.
“That triple-chocolate cake was absolutely sinful.”
“The dessert menu featured a sinful array of pastries, each more buttery and sugar-laden than the last.”
Etymology
From Middle English synful, senful, sunful, from Old English synful (“sinful, guilty, wicked, corrupt”), equivalent to sin + -ful. Compare Dutch zondevol (“sinful”), German sündevoll (“sinful”), Danish syndefuld (“sinful”), Swedish syndfull (“sinful”), Icelandic syndfullur (“sinful”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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