cardinal sin

noun

: a very bad or serious sin in Christianity
—often used figuratively or humorously
Giving false information is a cardinal sin in news reporting.
He committed the cardinal sin of criticizing his boss.

Examples of cardinal sin in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That's a cardinal sin in this league. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026 Betting on one’s team is a cardinal sin in sports. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 June 2026 To release a Black song with no bass line was seen as a cardinal sin. — Ahmir “questlove” Thompson, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026 But that doesn’t mean that artificially sugared sodas, retail consumption, or social media are depraved, worthless activities akin to the cardinal sin of sloth or the tragic spiral of heroin addiction. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cardinal sin

Rhymes for cardinal sin

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Browse Nearby Words

cardinal sign
cardinal sin
cardinal tooth
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Cite this Entry

“Cardinal sin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardinal%20sin. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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