cardinal sin
Pride or envy
A cardinal sin is one of the seven deadly sins in Christian theology—pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth—considered fundamental sources of all other sins.
More broadly, cardinal sin describes any serious transgression or unforgivable violation of standards: Showing up late is a cardinal sin in her book.
Cardinal here means principal or fundamental.
Soul-destroying moral failing
- mortal sinGrace-destroying spiritual offense
- seven deadly sinsTraditional mortal transgressions
- lustIntense carnal appetite
- gluttonyGreedy excess in consumption
greed · sloth · wrath · envy · pride · avarice · venial sin · catechism
Violation of law or code
- violationBreaking of rules
- unforgivableCannot be pardoned
- egregiousConspicuously awful
- heinousOdiously, shockingly evil
atrocity · abomination · outrage · scandal · taboo · forbidden · inexcusable · breach
deadly sin
Soul-destroying moral failing
- mortal sinGrace-destroying spiritual offense
- seven deadly sinsTraditional mortal transgressions
- lustIntense carnal appetite
gluttony · greed · sloth · wrath · envy · pride · avarice · venial sin · catechism · confession
transgression
Violation of law or code
- violationBreaking of rules
- unforgivableCannot be pardoned
- egregiousConspicuously awful
heinous · atrocity · abomination · outrage · scandal · taboo · forbidden · inexcusable · breach · wrongdoing
rule-breaking
Disregarding established standards
gaffe · misstep · breach · sacrilege · heresy · anathema · unthinkable · forbidden · taboo · unwritten rule
- Biblical ExpressionsGarden of Eden, David and Goliath, Good Samaritan, prodigal son, forbidden fruit
- cardinalsredbird, one, two, three, four
- sinsgreed, lust, gluttony, deadly sin, sloth
- forbidden actsblasphemy, idolatry, sacrilege, adultery, incest
- wrongdoingscrime, crimes, sin, sins, wrongdoing
cardinal sinvenial sin
Lesser Catholic transgression
peccadillo · petty offense · white lie · minor transgression · human weakness
cardinal sincardinal virtue
Foundational moral excellence
grace · righteousness · moral excellence · holiness · beatitude