carnal nature
Flesh's base drives
Carnal nature refers to the physical, bodily aspects of human existence—particularly the impulses toward sensual pleasure, appetite, and self-gratification.
The phrase appears most often in religious contexts, where it contrasts with spiritual nature: His carnal nature warred against his higher calling.
Carnal here emphasizes flesh over spirit, earthly desire over divine aspiration.
The term can suggest moral weakness or simply acknowledge that humans are embodied creatures with physical needs and urges.
- fleshSoft body matter
- lustIntense carnal appetite
- desireIntense wanting
- primalFirst in origin
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
base instincts · appetite · sensual · bodily · earthly · animal · passion · urge · temptation · forbidden fruit · sin · original sin · seven deadly sins · worldly · base · hunger · craving · physical
carnal naturespirit
Soul, mood, or liquor
divine nature · immortal soul · higher self · pneuma · nous
carnal naturevirtue
Moral goodness or merit
righteousness · holiness · moral purity · sanctity · chastity
carnal naturespiritual life
Religious or transcendent dimension
transcendence · otherworldliness · spiritual devotion · contemplative life · eternal life
carnal, nature, carnality, carnally, incarnate, incarnation, reincarnation, reincarnate, carnival