fleshly

adjective

flesh·​ly ˈflesh-lē How to pronounce fleshly (audio)
Synonyms of fleshlynext
1
a
: corporeal, bodily
b
: of, relating to, or characterized by indulgence of bodily appetites
especially : lascivious
fleshly desires
c
: not spiritual : worldly
2
: fleshy sense 1a
3
: having a sensuous quality
fleshly art

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for fleshly

carnal, fleshly, sensual, animal mean having a relation to the body.

carnal may mean only this but more often connotes derogatorily an action or manifestation of a person's lower nature.

gave in to carnal desires

fleshly is less derogatory than carnal.

a saint who had experienced fleshly temptations

sensual may apply to any gratification of a bodily desire or pleasure but commonly implies sexual appetite with absence of the spiritual or intellectual.

fleshpots providing sensual delights

animal stresses the physical as distinguished from the rational nature of a person.

led a mindless animal existence

Examples of fleshly in a Sentence

a time of year when people shouldn't focus on fleshly concerns, but instead on spiritual matters the fleshly eye sees the only finished painting, but the mind's eye sees the genius behind its creation
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
What the world desires, in short, is a glimpse of a video game, which no one will be able to play until 2025—a game that builds an entire alternative world, glowing with the promise of violence and other fleshly thrills. — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2023 But the album offers more than deliciously hedonistic thrills: Thrusting us into their operatic world, this Brooklyn band makes peace with their dark memories and fleshly desires. — Pitchfork, 6 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fleshly was before the 12th century

Rhymes for fleshly

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Cite this Entry

“Fleshly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleshly. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of fleshly for Spanish Speakers

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