sinful
UK: ˈsɪnfl | US: ˈsɪnfl
adj. characterized by or full of sin; morally wrong
adj. (archaic) guilty of sin
The word "sinful" combines "sin," derived from Old English synn (meaning "moral wrongdoing, offense against God"), with the suffix "-ful," from Old English -full ("full of"). "Sin" traces back to Proto-Germanic sundīō and shares roots with Old Norse synd and German Sünde. The suffix "-ful" has been productive in English since the Old English period, turning nouns into adjectives denoting abundance (e.g., "joyful," "painful"). The pairing of "sin" + "-ful" logically creates an adjective meaning "full of sin," reflecting a straightforward morphological and semantic evolution.
The preacher warned against sinful behavior like greed and dishonesty.
She felt sinful after eating the entire cake by herself.
In medieval art, demons were often depicted as sinful creatures.
The novel explores the sinful temptations of its protagonist.
(Archaic) "Repent, for you are sinful!" cried the priest.