Heinous: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe extremely wicked or deeply criminal acts, often associated with moral outrage.

• The criminal was convicted of a heinous crime that shocked the entire community.
• Her betrayal was seen as a heinous act by everyone who trusted her.

Typically used to describe something horrifyingly bad, often referring to violent acts or exceptionally poor quality.

• The dictator was responsible for atrocious human rights abuses.
• The service at the restaurant was atrocious; we waited over an hour for our food.

Used to describe something extremely unpleasant or morally reprehensible.

• The air in the room was filled with a vile stench.
• His vile comments were quickly condemned by everyone present.

Refers to something morally very bad or evil, often used in a lighter, sometimes even playful, manner.

• The wicked witch cast a spell over the entire village.
• He has a wicked sense of humor that often catches people off guard.

Describes something that is extremely evil, cruel, or unusually large and frightening.

• The villain's monstrous behavior struck fear into the hearts of the villagers.
• His lie was so monstrous that no one could believe he had the audacity to say it.

Best used for situations that are extremely shocking, horrifying, or upsetting.

• The car accident was horrendous; many people were seriously injured.
• He was tormented by horrendous nightmares after the event.

Usually describes extremely evil or wicked actions, typically involving serious crimes or moral offenses.

• The heinous crime shocked the entire nation

Used to describe actions or behaviors that are horrifyingly wicked or very bad in quality. It can also refer to something that is of very poor quality.

• The conditions in the prison were atrocious
• Her handwriting is atrocious

Describes something that is morally bad or extremely unpleasant. It often has a very strong negative connotation.

• The vile comments he made about his coworker were completely inappropriate
• The odor coming from the trash was vile

Typically refers to evil or morally wrong actions, but can also be used informally to mean something cool or impressive in certain contexts.

• The wicked witch cast a spell on the village
• That skateboard trick was wicked!

Refers to actions or behaviors that are shockingly horrible or cruel, often with a sense of being enormous or overwhelmingly bad.

• The monstrous actions of the dictator left the world in disbelief
• He made a monstrous mistake by lying to everyone

Describes something that is extremely shocking or bad, often referring to situations that cause a lot of fear or discomfort.

• The hurricane caused horrendous damage to the coastal cities
• The traffic this morning was horrendous