den of iniquity
2
9.1
- noun
- NSFW
:
guarida de iniquidad
- This neighborhood is infamous for its den of iniquity, attracting all kinds of shady characters at night.
Because that place sounds like a den of iniquity if you ask me.
- Because that place sounds like a den of iniquity if you ask me.
Examples
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What are you doing in this den of iniquity?
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It is said that Bari is the den of iniquity steered by Balkan gangs.
Blog text (30) -
Because that place sounds like a den of iniquity if you ask me.
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What brings you to this den of iniquity? - Is there somewhere we can talk?
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She had never yet visited his den of iniquity.
Fiction book (1993) -
"I'm so glad you left that den of iniquity," her mother said softly.
Fiction book (1999) -
Along with its famed riches, the capital also had a reputation in the provinces as a den of iniquity.
Fiction book (1997) -
After the wedding, Princess Shina will dwell in my palace, and you will leave at once for your usual den of iniquity.
Fiction book (1997) -
It happens, you know—they run away from dens of iniquity and come to us for good money.
Fiction book (1996) -
Everyone knows that bar is a den of iniquity where gambling and illegal activities take place.
Synonyms
6
6.0
A secret place used as a hideout, often by criminals
4
9.9
A place where people buy and smoke a strong illegal drug from the poppy plant
2
8.9
A place where people pay to have sex
1
9.9
A place where people pay for sex, often seen as wrong
How Immoral
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'den' denotes a lair or hideout and 'iniquity' denotes extreme wickedness, so 'den of iniquity' straightforwardly means a place characterized by immoral or illegal behavior. This follows a common English 'den of X' pattern (e.g. 'den of thieves') that is cross-linguistically recognizable, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would understand it.
Etymology
Den of iniquity uses the image of a dark animal den and the old word iniquity, which means 'great wrong' or 'wickedness'. The picture of a hidden lair where bad things happen is why it now means 'a place where immoral or illegal activities happen'.