What Is “Fleshly”?
Definition:
Fleshly is an adjective meaning pertaining to the flesh or bodily appetites, especially sensual or carnal desires, as opposed to spiritual or intellectual concerns.
In simple words: Fleshly describes things of the body—often pleasures or desires that are physical or sensual.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈflɛʃ.li/
- Spoken: FLESH-lee
Grammatical Formation
- Part of speech: Adjective
- Forms: fleshly (positive)
- Usage:
- “He struggled with his fleshly desires.”
- “The sermon warned against fleshly temptations.”
Synonyms
sensual, carnal, bodily, corporeal, fleshy, hedonistic
Antonyms
spiritual, intellectual, ascetic, chaste, pure
Related Terms
- Carnal – relating to sexual or bodily appetites
- Sensual – relating to gratification of the senses
- Flesh – the soft substance of the body
- Temptation – appeal to bodily desire
- Ascetic – self-denying of bodily pleasures
Common Collocations
- fleshly desires
- fleshly appetites
- fleshly temptation
- fleshly pleasures
- fleshly nature
Idiomatic Usage & Expressions
- “Give in to fleshly desires” – to yield to physical urges
“He feared he might give in to fleshly desires.” - “Fleshly lust” – overtly sexual craving
“The poem speaks of fleshly lust as both beautiful and dangerous.”
Sample Sentences
- Medieval monks rejected fleshly pleasures to focus on the divine.
- She wrote a novel about the conflict between fleshly appetite and moral duty.
- Fleshly temptation can distract one from higher goals.
- The dance was criticized for its overtly fleshly movements.
- Philosophers have long debated the balance between fleshly and spiritual life.
Does “Fleshly” Have Any Relationship to Sexuality?
Yes.
- Fleshly often implies sensual or sexual aspects of human nature.
- It emphasizes bodily, carnal, or erotic impulses.
- While not exclusively sexual—sometimes just bodily—it frequently appears in contexts discussing sexual temptation or physical pleasure.