as in horrific
very bad or evil; deserving of hate or contempt
These murders were especially heinous. the heinous brutality of the attack
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Recent Examples of heinous
An act of violence so heinous as that which took Kruglov’s life marks a sharp break in that social contract unlike many, or any, other transgressions could.
—
Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Oversight Committee Republicans are focused on running a thorough investigation to bring transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein's heinous crimes and the American people.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
This was an outrageously heinous and vicious act.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2025
These are the moments that hit me, of the heinous memories and choices and consequences.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heinous
Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Oversight Committee Republicans are focused on running a thorough investigation to bring transparency and accountability for survivors of Epstein's heinous crimes and the American people.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
This was an outrageously heinous and vicious act.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2025
These are the moments that hit me, of the heinous memories and choices and consequences.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heinous
Adjective
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His horrific crimes went on to inspire classic horror movies like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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Reading out the verdict, Korner recounted the horrific crimes committed by Abd–Al-Rahman, including gang rapes, abuse, and mass killings.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For reasons that are still not fully understood, Gein then developed a gruesome interest in human bodies.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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What began with the worst attack on Israeli soil in the country’s history—when Hamas killed twelve hundred Israelis and took more than two hundred hostages on October 7, 2023—has led to a gruesome war.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Just a sickening day for Jameson Williams’ managers.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Those recalls were the major change in Friday’s FDA update on the outbreak, credited with sickening 20 people and killing four, one of which was a fetus, over 15 states.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, Republicans are pressuring Democrats to condemn Jones and urge him to leave the race after last month’s shocking killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk reignited a national conversation about political violence.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Oct. 2025
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Now, series creator Anthony Zuiker is opening up about the shocking casting decision and its lasting consequences.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Add in moisture and soap scum, and kitchen sinks can get pretty disgusting.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Oct. 2025
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In Johnston’s reimagining, Jim and Credenza Twit operate the most disgusting, dangerous, and idiotic amusement park in the world, Twitlandia.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Midler and Hawn co-starred alongside Keaton in 1996’s The First Wives Club, with the stars portraying divorcées who wonderfully, wickedly take revenge on their terrible former spouses.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
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In the 1970s, when game replays of both programs aired late Saturday nights on public television in Dubuque, Iowa and Wisconsin were equally terrible, and the city was fertile ground for whichever program got off the mat.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While that might be great for the profitability in real estate, in consumer goods and apparel, that’s horrible.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Oct. 2025
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In the past, the Soviet Union had a horrible impact on Georgian wine.—
Jessica Jungbauer,
Vogue,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Like Mitchell, Estrada has a knack for softening the sharp edges of our emotions and finding beauty in our ugly truths.—
Cat Cardenas,
Rolling Stone,
13 Oct. 2025
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The results were … predictably ugly for the Warriors.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heinous. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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