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

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

Church leaders understood these views to be heretical or pagan, reflecting pride and a lack of gratitude to God. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2025

And there’s this period now where, by a lot of Muslim standards, she would be considered heretical. —Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 9 May 2025

Combining the trademark flavors of Philadelphia, Atlanta, upstate New York and the Midwest feels almost heretical yet totally works here. —Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 3 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