carnal

[ kahr-nl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual:

   carnal pleasures.

   Synonyms: concupiscent, libidinous, lascivious, lecherous, lustful, bodily

2. not spiritual; merely human; temporal; worldly:

   a man of secular, rather carnal, leanings.

   Synonyms: natural, earthly

carnal

/ ˈkɑːnəl /

adjective

1. relating to the appetites and passions of the body; sensual; fleshly

Derived Forms

• ˈcarnalist, noun
• ˈcarnally, adverb
• carˈnality, noun

Other Words From

• car·nal·i·ty [kahr-, nal, -i-tee], car·nal·ness car·nal·ism noun
• car·nal·ly adverb
• hy·per·car·nal adjective
• hy·per·car·nal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin carnālis, equivalent to carn- (stem of carō ) “flesh” + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnal¹

C15: from Late Latin: relating to flesh, from Latin carō flesh

Synonym Study

Carnal, sensual, fleshly, animal all refer to bodily rather than rational or spiritual aspects of humans. Carnal, although it may refer to the body as opposed to the spirit, often refers to sexual needs or urges: carnal cravings, attractions, satisfactions. Sensual implies a suggestion of eroticism: sensual eyes; a sensual dance; it may also refer to experience of the senses: a sensual delight. Fleshly may refer to any physical need or appetite, sex as well as hunger and thirst: the fleshly sin of gluttony; fleshly yearnings. Animal refers to sexual appetites in a censorious way only; it may also describe pleasing or admirable physical characteristics or appearance: animal lust; to move with animal grace.

Example Sentences

Despite this, some have had a deep impact on me, to the point that we consider ourselves “brothers” or “carnal,” as Central Americans call their brothers.

From Washington Blade

The heterosexuality of some who have been confined in a prison for many years, surrounded by only testosterone, can succumb to the carnal desires of whoever is able to satisfy them.

From Washington Blade

Several comrades have succumbed to their most carnal desires and have found in Britany the ideal solution to alleviate forced celibacy.

From Washington Blade

The trendily spruced-up Meatpacking District, notorious once upon a time as a carnal marketplace, beckons the theater world with director Moisés Kaufman’s thematically resonant if erratic production of “Seven Deadly Sins.”

From Washington Post

Birkin whisper-sings with carnal reverie and eventually breaks out into orgasmic moans.

From Washington Post

With all due respect to his athletic skill, Gronkowski is not high on the list of NFL players that elicit carnal thoughts.

From The Daily Beast

What if an affair is a process of positive self-discovery rather than selfish carnal impulses?

From The Daily Beast

That play eventually became the movie Carnal Knowledge, directed by Mike Nichols.

From The Daily Beast

Her stories memorably show carnal relations as a means to a vicious end.

From The Daily Beast

More so, in fact, than any number of salacious carnal details.

From The Daily Beast

Charges of unlawful carnal knowledge or indecent assault arise, for the most part, from complaints made by females.

From Project Gutenberg

If you examine them about spiritual matters, you will find them merely carnal.

From Project Gutenberg

I prayed that the many evils I felt within might be done away, and that I might be weaned from my former carnal acquaintances.

From Project Gutenberg

And the sly carnal wisdom of the advice, no less than the charity which made it practicable, left a good taste in the mouth.

From Project Gutenberg

David groaned to find that such carnal motives could have influence upon the mind of a powerful preacher.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• earthly
• lewd
• sensuous
• wanton