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Heinous: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ‘น
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heinous

 

[หˆheษชnษ™s ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

criminal behavior

hatefully or shockingly evil; abominable; atrocious

Synonyms

atrocious, horrendous, monstrous, vile, wicked.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
heinous

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.
atrocious

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.
vile

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.
wicked

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.
monstrous

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.
horrendous

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.

Examples of usage

  • The heinous crime shocked the entire community.
  • The heinous act of violence left a lasting impact on the victims' families.
Context #2 | Adjective

behavior

outrageously evil or wicked

Synonyms

atrocious, horrendous, monstrous, vile, wicked.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
heinous

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

  • The heinous crime shocked the entire nation
atrocious

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
vile

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
wicked

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!
monstrous

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
horrendous

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

Examples of usage

  • His heinous behavior towards his employees led to his downfall.
  • The heinous act of betrayal shattered their friendship.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Old French 'haineux', meaning 'hateful', which is linked to 'haine' for 'hatred'.
  • Its roots can be traced back to the Latin word 'inania', meaning 'without worth', reflecting its negative connotation.
  • The term gained prominence in English around the 14th century, evolving through use in legal and literary contexts.

Literature

  • Famous works often highlight heinous acts to critique societal issues, such as Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' which tackles themes of ambition and murder.
  • In Gothic literature, heinous deeds are commonly depicted as a way to explore the dark side of human nature, like in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'.
  • Modern novels also use the term to describe characters or actions that embody moral corruption, encouraging readers to reflect on ethics.

Law

  • In legal contexts, 'heinous crimes' refer to particularly egregious offenses, like murder or child abuse, which receive harsher penalties.
  • The term is often used to portray crimes that elicit public outrage, influencing lawmakers to impose stricter regulations.
  • Jurors may be instructed to consider the heinousness of a crime when deciding on sentences, especially in capital cases.

Psychology

  • Research into heinous behavior often examines the psychological aspects that lead individuals to commit severe acts, including upbringing and mental health.
  • Studies show that heinous actions are frequently linked to a lack of empathy, suggesting that emotional disconnect can drive negative actions.
  • Understanding the roots of such behavior can inform prevention strategies, helping society address underlying causes.

Pop Culture

  • Television series often highlight heinous acts in crime dramas to create tension and engage viewers, like in shows such as 'Breaking Bad'.
  • The portrayal of heinous crimes in films can sometimes lead to public discourse about morality and justice, as seen in movies like 'Se7en'.
  • Social media platforms take action against heinous behavior, emphasizing a collective effort to combat hate speech and violence online.

Translations

Translations of the word "heinous" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น atroz

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคœเค˜เคจเฅเคฏ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช abscheulich

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ keji

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะถะฐั…ะปะธะฒะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ohydny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆฅตๆ‚ช

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท odieux

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ atroz

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท iฤŸrenรง

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ‰์•…ํ•œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุดู†ูŠุน

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ohavnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ohavnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆžๅ…ถๆถๅŠฃ็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ grozovit

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hrรฆรฐilegur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะตะบัาฑั€ั‹ะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒจแƒ˜แƒœแƒ”แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dษ™hลŸษ™tli

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ atroz

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,409, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.