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as in shame
a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a sin to waste food when people are starving

Synonyms & Similar Words

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sin

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sin contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sin are crime, offense, scandal, and vice. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

When could crime be used to replace sin?

The synonyms crime and sin are sometimes interchangeable, but crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When would offense be a good substitute for sin?

In some situations, the words offense and sin are roughly equivalent. However, offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

Where would scandal be a reasonable alternative to sin?

While in some cases nearly identical to sin, scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

When is vice a more appropriate choice than sin?

The meanings of vice and sin largely overlap; however, vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sin
Noun
With that said, the overall dearth of humor is a more damning sin. Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2025 In a change election resulting in the closest popular vote since 2000, hypocrisy was a fatal sin. Rob Richie, Twin Cities, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
Páramo is a perfect hypocrite, sinning freely and then heading to the confession booth to take advantage of his faith’s unlimited forgiveness policy. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2024 This is a man who has probably sinned more times and in more areas of life than any human not currently imprisoned. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for sin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sin
Noun
  • Givens is an old-fashioned hero in a modern world, dealing with the forces of evil in his corner of Eastern Kentucky, particularly one tough guy played unforgettably by Walton Goggins.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Eddie Barrish, the financially desperate, hapless criminal in this high-concept thriller, is played by Bill Skarsgard, who for once is on the receiving end of evil.
    Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The much bigger shame with Social Security is that it’s forced savings sans any kind of equity component.
    John Tamny, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • There’s no shame at this no-audition choir that’s teaching Angelenos to sing.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • At the same time, there are growing signs of weakness.
    Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Kostin also warned that the current macroeconomic environment points to weakness in the IPO market.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The idea behind militarizing the buffer zone is that any apprehensions by service members would be treated similarly to trespassing on a military base, with troops holding migrants until law enforcement arrives.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Patrol officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Asylum Street Tuesday on a report of a person trespassing on the property and refusing to leave, according to Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police Department.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Karma revolves around a fateful accident, which intertwines six lives in a tale of karma and crime, where each must face their own dark truths and connections.
    Sara Merican, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Gus Van Sant’s upcoming crime feature Dead Man’s Wire and Dustin Hoffman drama The Revisionist nabbed incentives to shoot in the locale.
    Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Noun
  • Boland states that a comprehensive charter is needed to address Chicago’s continuing climate of political corruption.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The growing pace of space as a commercial resource brings with it the prospect for misdeeds, corruption, piracy, and war.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Which is a pity, because the pedigree looks great on paper.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Here’s what autism isn’t, Gross says – something to be scared of or pity.
    Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sin. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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