SIN Synonyms: 185 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

sin 1 of 2

noun

ˈsin

Definition of sin next

as in offence

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

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

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

as in shame

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in weakness

a defect in character my besetting sin is impatience—I hate to wait for anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sin

2 of 2

verb

as in to trespass

to commit an offense bless me, Father, for I have sinned

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples 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

For pilgrims, the pinnacle of the festival is a dip in the sacred waters on auspicious days—an act believed to cleanse the faithful of their sins. —

Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024 Winning the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, the second of Chan-wook’s vengeance trilogy finds Choi Min-sik as a drunkard who’s mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years, only to be unceremoniously released from captivity to discover what his past sins resulted in. —

Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 28 Oct. 2024

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

The show felt joyously anarchic and kind of evil at the same time.

Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 19 Dec. 2024
As the film’s wealthy Pennsylvania industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren, Pearce creates a psychologically penetrating portrait of a man who is by turns generous and predatory, inquisitive and closed off, someone who ultimately reveals himself to be capable of true evil.

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024