What Is “Carnal”?
Definition:
Carnal is an adjective referring to things of the flesh, especially sensual or sexual appetites, as opposed to the spiritual or intellectual.
In simple words: Carnal describes bodily desires, often sexual or sensual.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈkɑːr.nəl/
- Spoken: “KAR-nul”
Grammatical Formation
- Part of speech: Adjective
- Forms:
- Positive: carnal
- No comparative or superlative forms commonly used (you would say “more carnal”)
- Usage:
- Before nouns: “They gave in to their carnal desires.”
- After linking verbs: “His interests are purely carnal.”
Synonyms
sensual, fleshly, erotic, bodily, corporeal, physical, hedonistic
Antonyms
spiritual, intellectual, chaste, pure, ascetic, austere
Related Terms
- Carnality (noun) – the quality of being carnal
- Carnal knowledge – legal term for sexual intercourse
- Flesh – the soft substance of the body
- Sensuality – enjoyment of bodily pleasures
- Hedonism – pursuit of pleasure
Common Collocations
- carnal desires
- carnal pleasures
- carnal knowledge
- carnal appetites
- carnal instincts
Idiomatic Usage & Expressions
- “Give in to carnal urges” – to allow oneself to satisfy bodily desires
- “Carnal knowledge” – formal/legal term for sexual intercourse
- “More carnal than spiritual” – emphasizing physical over spiritual concerns
Sample Sentences
- In the novel, characters struggle between carnal impulses and moral codes.
- He spoke of love in terms both emotional and carnal.
- The policy distinguished between spiritual vows and carnal actions.
- Carnal appetites can distract us from higher pursuits.
- Some poetry celebrates the beauty of the carnal form.
Note:Carnal often carries a sexual connotation—describing physical desire or appetites—but it can also refer broadly to any bodily or fleshly aspect of human nature.