heretical

adjective

he·​ret·​i·​cal hə-ˈre-ti-kəl 

variants or less commonly heretic

ˈher-ə-ˌtik 

ˈhe-rə-

1

: of or relating to adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma : characterized by heresy

heretical writings

2

: of, relating to, or characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards : unorthodox

It would be heretical to suggest changing company policy.

heretically

hə-ˈre-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• dissentient
• dissenting
• dissident
• heterodox
• iconoclastic
• maverick
• nonconformist
• nonorthodox
• out-there
• unconventional
• unorthodox

Examples of heretical in a Sentence

the belief that women should be allowed to have careers outside the home was once considered heretical

Recent Examples on the Web

His recommendations for how to make up for pandemic losses are, unsurprisingly, mildly heretical. —Belinda Luscombe, TIME, 18 July 2024

Some Muslim groups consider the prospect of a female imam leading men in prayer within a mosque as heretical. —John Blake, CNN, 15 July 2024

This is why Big Trouble is known for breaking boundaries, as its works exist in a dimension where heretical physics, impossible colors, and unnamable emotions collide to create captivating experiences. —Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 9 July 2024

As a young man, he was expelled from Amsterdam’s Jewish community for his heretical views on God and the Bible. —The New Yorker, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English heretikel, borrowed from Medieval Latin haereticālis, from Late Latin haereticus heretic + Latin -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

heretical

adjective

he·​ret·​i·​cal hə-ˈret-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, or characterized by heresy : unorthodox

heretically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb