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Synonym Chooser

How is the word carnal different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of carnal are animal, fleshly, and sensual. While all these words mean "having a relation to the body," carnal may mean only this but more often connotes derogatorily an action or manifestation of a person's lower nature.

a slave to carnal desires

When can animal be used instead of carnal?

While the synonyms animal and carnal are close in meaning, animal stresses the physical as distinguished from the rational nature of a person.

led a mindless animal existence

How do fleshly and carnal relate to one another?

Fleshly is less derogatory than carnal.

a saint who had experienced fleshly temptations

When is it sensible to use sensual instead of carnal?

While in some cases nearly identical to carnal, sensual may apply to any gratification of a bodily desire or pleasure but commonly implies sexual appetite with absence of the spiritual or intellectual.

fleshpots providing sensual delights

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 carnal That disconcerting closeness of the cosmic and carnal was par for the course for Combs, an altar boy turned entrepreneur whose career is a monument to these and other striking dualities. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2024 Unfortunately, the singer’s obsessions with Atlanta culture and carnal desire led to a momentum-killing sequence that briefly sent the concert off the rails. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024 But only in the closing moments are there flashes of the carnal flame that should fuel this classic. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2024 His timbre is as much a betrayal as his taste for the carnal press of white and caramel skin. Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for carnal 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnal
Adjective
  • Beyond a point, the story is all implication by way of mundane suggestion, rather than chilling possibility.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025
  • But as fires continue to ravage the area, the blazes also reflect—and exacerbate—the disparities embedded in the most mundane tenets of L.A. life.
    Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Moreover, Hasbro gets most of its sales (67% in the third quarter of 2024) from its consumer-products segment, home of its physical toys and games—even as more kids get their fix online.
    Brett Owens, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • After a big meal at night, even the lightest form of physical activity may be the furthest thing from your mind.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The retreat offers experiential exercises to explore intimacy and sensual pleasure.
    Caren Osten Gerszberg, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Words may fall short when portraying the shock, trauma and cognitive dissonance, but when words fail, there are images, objects and sensual immersion that can convey a perception of what happened and how the Nova festival community has come together for healing and hope.
    Karen-Janine Cohen, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • And though Chen maneuvers every temporal and geographical shift, efforts to convey the political context of each new era can outweigh character development, undercutting the emotional breadth this story carries.
    Kayla Maiuri, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
  • For leaders, introducing intentional financial, temporal, or otherwise constraints can reignite creativity and urgency within stagnant teams.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • According to the Allen County Sheriff’s Department's online inmate information, Hudson, 23, is facing charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
  • The item expands the bill to include the detainment of migrants without legal status charged with crimes causing death or serious bodily injury.
    Al Weaver, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The dome will house the ELT, which aims to observe terrestrial exoplanets and their atmospheres, as well as measuring the expansion of the universe.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 19 Jan. 2025
  • These aquatic, semiaquatic or terrestrial creatures are easily recognized thanks to their bony, cartilaginous shells and slow-pace movements.
    Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • However, they are immediately attacked by a ferocious creature that seems not fully animal, not fully human.
    EW.com, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Animal lovers will enjoy horseback riding or visiting one of the area’s animal sanctuaries.
    Katie Seemann, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2023
Adjective
  • Contemporary sculptures of earthly Greek women were usually made from terra-cotta and depicted them clothed in tight cloaks.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Jan. 2025
  • But as Iyer discovers, the monks aren’t blithely floating above earthly cares.
    Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near carnal

Cite this Entry

“Carnal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnal. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on carnal

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