variants
also heretic
as in dissident
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
the belief that women should be allowed to have careers outside the home was once considered heretical
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heretical
The lacunae in the record lead Greenblatt to sprinkle breadcrumbs of heretical thought through his tale.
—
Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
In Charlton’s world, this was serious, almost heretical, praise.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
These statements were heretical in Athens, where Anaxagoras lived.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 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
See All Example Sentences for heretical
Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
In Charlton’s world, this was serious, almost heretical, praise.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
These statements were heretical in Athens, where Anaxagoras lived.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 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
See All Example Sentences for heretical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heretical
Adjective
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Gu’s critics found more fuel Thursday night following the heroics of Liu, the daughter of a Chinese dissident father who fled China due to his role in the pro-democracy protests and ensuing massacre in Tiananmen Square in 1989.—
Griffin Eckstein,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
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Maybe Mark Kelly and several other dissident members of Congress are hiding the sun in a big bag.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The internationally famous doughnut shop, which is known not only for its bold and unconventional creations but also for hosting nontraditional wedding ceremonies, has opened in Wynwood, with the flavors that have transformed it from a cult favorite to a megahit across the country.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
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Late last month, Hudson pulled off an unconventional styling trick for a London outing.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
Elizabeth Sander,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Aug. 2022
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The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 June 2022
Adjective
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You guys had this out-there idea of a cartoon band all those years ago, and now that’s the biggest thing in the world.—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
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View gallery - 9 images One of the more out-there concepts to emerge from CMT 2026, the Wingcube is a unique style of trailerable expanding camp pod.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heretical. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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