sodomy
Non-procreative carnal act
Sodomy is anal intercourse, and by extension, other sexual acts considered "unnatural" under historical law—typically oral sex or bestiality.
The term comes from the biblical city of Sodom, destroyed for its inhabitants' wickedness.
Sodomy laws criminalized these acts in many jurisdictions until recent decades; some remain on the books.
The word carries a legalistic or archaic tone: He was charged with sodomy.
Serious criminal offense
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- criminalizationMaking conduct unlawful
- statuteEnacted written rule
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
conviction · offense · defendant · sentence · verdict · arraignment · penal · decriminalization
Violation of divine law
- abominationLoathsome, detestable thing
- GomorrahAncient symbol of depravity
- LeviticusHebrew scripture of rituals
- damnationEternal punishment decree
heresy · doctrine · orthodoxy · excommunication · repentance · penance · mortal · hellfire
Not allowed
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- disgraceLoss of honor
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
deviance · perversion · unspeakable · unmentionable · secrecy · closeted · hidden · whispered
Violent offensive act
- rapeOilseed brassica crop
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- victimOne harmed by another
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
nonconsensual · violation · force · predatory · statutory · minor · incapacity · prosecution
felony
Serious criminal offense
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- criminalizationMaking conduct unlawful
- statuteEnacted written rule
indictment · conviction · offense · defendant · sentence · verdict · arraignment · penal · decriminalization · Lawrence
sin
Violation of divine law
- abominationLoathsome, detestable thing
- GomorrahAncient symbol of depravity
- LeviticusHebrew scripture of rituals
damnation · heresy · doctrine · orthodoxy · excommunication · repentance · penance · mortal · hellfire · scripture
forbidden
Not allowed
scandal · deviance · perversion · unspeakable · unmentionable · secrecy · closeted · hidden · whispered · hush
assault
Violent offensive act
abuse · nonconsensual · violation · force · predatory · statutory · minor · incapacity · prosecution · survivor
decriminalization
Ending criminal status
privacy · LGBTQ · Stonewall · reform · protest · discrimination · prejudice · legalization · advocacy · liberation
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- sexual ethicssexual morality, sexual ethics, chastity, adultery, human sexuality
- taboostaboo, incest, cannibalism, bestiality, necrophilia
- Sex Crimesrape, sexual assault, molestation, statutory rape, sexual battery
- forbidden actsblasphemy, idolatry, sacrilege, adultery, incest
- historical crimestreason, heresy, blasphemy, witchcraft, piracy
sodomycoitus
Sexual joining of bodies
marital relations · missionary position · conjugal relations · coition · holy matrimony
- Sodom and GomorrahDestroyed cities symbolizing vice
- sodomy lawsStatutes criminalizing particular sexual behaviors