# sinful

/ˈsɪnfəɫ/ (US) · /sˈɪnfəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sinful
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. morally or religiously wrong

adjective · CEFR B2

describing an action that is considered very bad or evil because it breaks religious or moral rules.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. guilty of sin

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing a person who has done something wrong according to their religion.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. deliciously indulgent

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

describing something, usually food, that is so rich and tasty that you feel a little guilty for enjoying it.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The chocolate cake looked absolutely sinful.
- Many people believe that lying is a sinful act that harms the soul.
- The dessert menu featured a sinful combination of dark chocolate and salted caramel that few diners could resist despite their dietary resolutions.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.