as in dissent
departure from a generally accepted theory, opinion, or practice
Copernicus's theory that the earth revolved around the sun was arrant heterodoxy at a time when the earth was thought to be the center of the universe
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Recent Examples of heterodoxy
But Dhillon’s apparent moderation during that time might also be read as a different way of communicating the same underlying heterodoxy from her Review days.
—
Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
Shalom Auslander’s literary career has been built on equal parts comedy, heterodoxy and self-loathing.
—Mark Athitakis, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
Historians have put forward theories which emphasized the (overstated) isolation of the province, its religious heterodoxy, and, most compellingly, its lack of the kind of 17th-century political traditions that colonists in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia drew on for support.
—Alexandra L. Montgomery, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2021
The third or worst scenario would be if Rome would for some reason fail to address this situation on time; the heterodoxy would consequently rashly spread within the Church.
—Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021
Trump’s heterodoxy and disruptiveness provided the equivalent of an enormous natural experiment, and the results were surprising.
—Oren Cass, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2021
Four months later, Wilson was ousted as CEO of Ascend, having already been stripped of his responsibilities as early as July, just one month after expressing his heterodoxy.
—Madeline Fry Schultz, Washington Examiner, 10 Dec. 2020
Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
Shalom Auslander’s literary career has been built on equal parts comedy, heterodoxy and self-loathing.
—Mark Athitakis, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
Historians have put forward theories which emphasized the (overstated) isolation of the province, its religious heterodoxy, and, most compellingly, its lack of the kind of 17th-century political traditions that colonists in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia drew on for support.
—Alexandra L. Montgomery, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2021
The third or worst scenario would be if Rome would for some reason fail to address this situation on time; the heterodoxy would consequently rashly spread within the Church.
—Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021
Trump’s heterodoxy and disruptiveness provided the equivalent of an enormous natural experiment, and the results were surprising.
—Oren Cass, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2021
Four months later, Wilson was ousted as CEO of Ascend, having already been stripped of his responsibilities as early as July, just one month after expressing his heterodoxy.
—Madeline Fry Schultz, Washington Examiner, 10 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heterodoxy
Noun
-
His arrest came during a years-long crackdown on civil society and dissent, which began following mass protests in 2018 that the government violently repressed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
His arrest came during a yearslong crackdown on civil society and dissent, which began following mass protests in 2018 that the government violently repressed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
While Ono faced the public just days after being named UF’s preferred candidate, Bell has spent more than two weeks under the microscope as conservative activists, bloggers and political operatives sifted through his decade-long record in Alabama searching for evidence of ideological heresy.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
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Convicted of heresy, Joan of Arc was executed by burning at the stake.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heterodoxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heterodoxy. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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