Meaning & use
carnally
Last updated
In a way relating to physical or bodily, especially sexual, desires rather than spiritual or intellectual matters.
See it in a sentence
The sermon contrasted living carnally with living according to one's spiritual values.
Old legal texts sometimes used the phrase 'carnally knew' to describe sexual relations between two people.
A note on using this word
A formal, somewhat old-fashioned word found mainly in religious, literary, or legal writing rather than everyday conversation.
Words with a similar meaning
physicallybodily
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
spiritually
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