variants also heretic
Definition of hereticalnext
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

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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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heretical
Adjective
  • After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Ali Khamenei moved from a dissident cleric to a senior government official, holding key posts in the regime including deputy defense minister.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
  • On Thursday, Turkey voiced opposition to Iranian Kurdish dissident groups’ possible involvement in the conflict in Iran, warning of greater instability in the region.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Whirlpool electric ranges pros Instead of a huge stable of super-fancy ranges with novel and unconventional features, much of Whirlpool’s range is somewhat straightforward.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • With unconventional methods such as these, there is a chance of catching defenders cold before coaches and analysts adopt ways of dealing with it.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 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 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
  • While casual fans of Bessette-Kennedy’s style might imagine her wardrobe as simple above all else, the fashion insider had a taste for the out-there stuff, too.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Heretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heretical. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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