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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
Soon, the childhood acquaintances are embarking on a surveillance caper, eavesdropping on a dissident pop star (Rebecca Naomi Jones).—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In the weeks before that dinner, dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and the Times and other outlets reported that world leaders had come to suspect the crown prince in the murder.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This surprising mechanism suggests that scientists may be overlooking unconventional clocks across the tree of life.—
Marlowe Starling,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
-
While an unconventional choice for the typically squeaky-clean Bachelor franchise, a soft-swinging TikTok influencer turned reality star at first sounded like the 180 the franchise desperately needed after years of declining ratings and a seemingly outdated format amid modern dating culture.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
Elizabeth Sander,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Aug. 2022
-
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
-
The show was always an out-there concept, even for HBO.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The planet is the setting for an unlikely mix of sci-fi, magic, and fantasy, populated by a bizarre assortment of characters whose origins were usually determined by the out-there whims of toymakers — there really is no other way to explain Snout Spout.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heretical. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
