1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code
a child old enough to know that lying is a sin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evil
that which is morally unacceptable
a minister who worries that modern society has abandoned the concept of sin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sinfulness
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society
a sordid section of the city that is mainly known for sin and degradation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in weakness
a defect in character
my besetting sin is impatience—I hate to wait for anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sin
Sarah Ventre, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
The tale of Eve being blamed for the sin of man in the Garden of Eden was also a strong inspiration.
—Jada Yuan, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
Jade Wilson, The Dial, 21 Oct. 2025
Many societies in the past have linked swearing to blasphemy or sin.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sin
Noun
In a Brooklyn apartment, Nozlee Samadzadeh thinks about family while building a haft sin, a traditional Nowruz table with symbolic objects on it.
—Sarah Ventre, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
The tale of Eve being blamed for the sin of man in the Garden of Eden was also a strong inspiration.
—Jada Yuan, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
The mothers were sometimes sent away to live in Magdalene laundries, where they were often cruelly abused: in these institutions, women and girls who were viewed to have sinned in some way were made to work for little or no pay, washing, ironing and mending locals’ laundry.
—Jade Wilson, The Dial, 21 Oct. 2025
Many societies in the past have linked swearing to blasphemy or sin.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sin
Noun
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Prisoners who are guilty of various violent crimes were not eligible, according to the embassy.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Oz, who earlier this year was criticized after posting a video accusing Armenian crime groups of carrying out widespread fraud, continued Thursday to accuse California and Los Angeles officials of not doing enough to combat fraud.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Money and jealousy are the root of the play’s evils, with more deadly sins released in a world of posh, uppity arrogance.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Its themes of kindness and resilience, of steadfast courage against evil, remain a source of inspiration for these readers, even as their feelings about the books are complicated by so much baggage.—
Séamas O'Reilly,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
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This lawless crew shares dramaturgical DNA with the vice figures from medieval morality plays, personifications of sinfulness who would confide their schemes to the audience and make theatergoers their co-conspirators in a riveting game that obviously left its mark on a young Shakespeare.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Relieved of their blindfolds, the men now wore heavy rucksacks filled with colored rocks representing their anger (red), guilt and shame (black), and sadness (blue).—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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No matter, this is his first real walk of shame, and the grin on his face is worth a million bucks.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If not treated early, the infection can progress to more serious symptoms, such as joint swelling and arthritis, nerve pain, tingling or numbness, facial muscle weakness, heart inflammation and difficulties with memory or concentration.—
Emily Bache,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
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To play for Hurley is to understand that taking a play off is not acceptable, that bending over and tugging at your short hems – a sure sign, in Hurley’s estimation, of weakness – will earn you either a death stare or a run up the steps.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Transit officials said the fence was essential and long overdue to prevent people from trespassing on the tracks and being killed, as trains were becoming faster and more frequent.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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On Monday, March 2, two weeks before the fire, the person living in the basement apartment in the building complained to the property manager that Slate was trespassing in the maintenance and boiler area, Pekara said.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The warrant was issued as part of an investigation into narcotics violations, police said.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Now called The Palms — records show the home changed ownership both in 2018 and 2019 — the ALF has been cited by health regulators for 90 violations since 2012.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While working together on The Unit, David Mamet once told you that good drama isn’t a choice between good and bad; good drama is the choice between two bads.—
Max Gao,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
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Reports out of fall camp haven’t been super favorable to their offense, and while the defense will, again, be top-notch, a team with this bad of an offense cannot be trusted.—
Austin Mock,
The Athletic,
19 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Sin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sin. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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