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

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

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

Married to Stanley, a man of carnal appetites and vulgar manners, Stella has embraced the crude pleasures of realism, while her freeloading sister still clings to tattered aristocratic illusions.

From Los Angeles Times

I came to know him as an unprincipled man of greed, lust and carnal desires that continue to rule him and thus make him unfit for office.

From Salon

As for the term “raw-dogging”, it might have carnal origins, but increasingly it is used for anything being done without protection or support.

From BBC

There’s always a visual dialogue between carnal desire and enlightened thinking.

From Los Angeles Times

She has made it her business to be at once technical and physical, choreographed and carnal.

From New York Times

Related Words

• earthly
• lewd
• sensuous
• wanton