sin 1 of 2

Definition of sinnext
1
2
3
4
as in shame
a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a sin to waste food when people are starving

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

sin

2 of 2

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
Rather, her sin was to recount truthfully to Congress the intelligence community’s strong assessment that Iran did not intend to build a nuclear weapon. Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026 That relationship was based on sinners confessing their sins to this vicar. Pat Saperstein, Variety, 14 June 2026
Verb
In fact, to pour away the treasured ingredient inside would be close to sin. Brennan Long, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2025 John DeWitt, the four-star general who oversaw the internment program, in particular, seems to be a forerunner to some of America's worst errors, paranoia, sins. Philip Elliott, Time, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sin
Noun
  • My job is to report in a timely manner on crime, mass shootings, war coverage, domestic and international affairs, pop culture and more.
    Doha Madani, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • Although federal law requires the VA to publish statistics on arrests, citations, investigations and prosecutions by local agencies, the campus police website has no link to crime data.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Peter Gosselin Washington Moyn’s article and the accompanying cover photograph—showing old people as malevolent and evil—were not up to the usual standards of Harper’s Magazine.
    Peter Gosselin, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Using everything she’s learned from Jack Reacher and her time as a member of the 110 Special Investigators, Neagley puts herself on a dangerous path to uncover a menacing evil.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
  • Women often bear the brunt of the shame and grief that comes from divorce, and for many women, divorce can be seen as a personal failure.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Concurrently, adult children often feel shame about accepting money and can also feel judged by the older generation.
    Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • The weakness that began in technology stocks spread through Asia and Europe on Tuesday, while precious metals also came under pressure as investors reassessed the path of interest rates.
    Justina Lee, CNBC, 24 June 2026
  • When the complex was being constructed, there were deviations from the building’s original design, contributing to structural weaknesses, the report said.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Instead of Cady as rapist, Cape Fear seems to be going for a general theme of Cady as violator, someone who is trespassing not singularly on a female body but on the Bowdens’ trustworthiness.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • The government has no place to trespass on a founding principle of this nation.
    Molly Parker, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Lawyers in the gas station lawsuit assert that technology is enabling antitrust violations.
    Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Beijing has and been accused of serious human violations, including large-scale arbitrary detention of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • In addition to public goods, AI will also create public bads.
    James Broughel, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026
  • Naturally, the meeting is a flop because no one was prepared, and their spontaneous ideas are frankly fireable-offense bad (a baguette bag shaped like a baguette for Paris?
    Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sin. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on sin

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster