sinfulness

IPA/ˈsɪnflnəs/
IPA/ˈsɪnflnəs/

sinfulness — noun

1. the quality of behaving in ways that break religious teaching or accepted ideas

1.nounC1
Definition

the quality of behaving in ways that break religious teaching or accepted ideas about right and wrong

Example

The priest spoke about human sinfulness during the evening service.

collocation: human sinfulness

Dario felt ashamed of the sinfulness behind his cruel online comments.

Common collocations
  • human sinfulness
  • personal sinfulness
  • sinfulness behind the act
  • lead to sinfulness
  • king's sinfulness
Synonyms
  • wickedness

    stronger and darker; often suggests a more deeply bad character

  • immorality

    more formal and more secular; not always tied to religion

  • evil

    much stronger; usually refers to serious cruelty or harm, not ordinary moral failure

Antonyms
  • goodness

    general moral rightness and kindness

  • righteousness

    moral or religious rightness, especially in a serious or formal sense

  • holiness

    spiritual purity and closeness to what is considered sacred

Usage Note

Usually uncountable. Most often used in religious or moral discussion, especially in phrases like 'human sinfulness' or 'the sinfulness behind an action.'

Common Mistakes

The book describes many sinfulnesses in society.
The book describes a lot of sinfulness in society.
This noun is usually uncountable when talking about immoral behaviour in general.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Sinfulness is the best choice when wrongdoing is viewed through a religious or moral lens. Wickedness is stronger and suggests a bad character or a pleasure in doing harm. Immorality is more formal and more secular, focusing on behaviour that breaks accepted ethical standards rather than religious teaching. Evil is the strongest word and usually points to deep cruelty or serious harm, not an ordinary moral failure. A selfish lie may be called sinfulness or immorality, but planned cruelty is more naturally called wickedness or evil.

sinfulness ↗wickedness ↗immorality ↗evil ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • human sinfulness
  • personal sinfulness
  • moral sinfulness

Prepositions

  • sinfulness of
  • sinfulness behind

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Sinfulness is formed from the adjective sinful plus the suffix -ness, which makes an abstract noun for a quality or state. The older base word sin comes from Old English and referred to wrongdoing against God or moral law. Together, the parts built a noun meaning the state of being sinful.