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

• dissident
• dissenting
• unconventional
• out-there

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

In Charlton’s world, this was serious, almost heretical, praise. —Michael Walker, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025

Although the French and Italian religious authorities welcomed their piety, those in Germany tended to suppress them as heretical and revolutionary. —Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

These statements were heretical in Athens, where Anaxagoras lived. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2025

The Druze religion, which grew out of Shiite Islam and has its own unique beliefs and practices, is considered heretical. —Hadeel Oueis, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for heretical

• aesthetical
• genetical
• magnetical
• poetical
• prophetical
• alphabetical
• antithetical
• arithmetical
• catechetical
• exegetical
• homiletical
• hypothetical

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