Heretical: meaning, definitions and examples

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heretical

 

[ həˈrɛtɪk(ə)l ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

religious beliefs

Contrary to or differing from established beliefs or doctrines, especially in religion.

Synonyms

heterodox, nonconformist, unorthodox

Examples of usage

  • His heretical views were considered dangerous by the church authorities.
  • Many people were persecuted for holding heretical beliefs during the Spanish Inquisition.
Context #2 | Adjective

general

Going against accepted or official beliefs, opinions, or principles.

Synonyms

dissenting, iconoclastic, rebellious

Examples of usage

  • His ideas were considered heretical by the scientific community.
  • The new theory was met with heretical skepticism by traditional scholars.

Translations

Translations of the word "heretical" in other languages:

🇵🇹 herético

🇮🇳 विधर्मी

🇩🇪 ketzerisch

🇮🇩 bid'ah

🇺🇦 єретичний

🇵🇱 heretycki

🇯🇵 異端の

🇫🇷 hérétique

🇪🇸 herético

🇹🇷 dinsiz

🇰🇷 이단의

🇸🇦 مهرطق

🇨🇿 kacířský

🇸🇰 kacírske

🇨🇳 异端的

🇸🇮 krivičarski

🇮🇸 villutrúarlegur

🇰🇿 дінсіз

🇬🇪 ერეტიკული

🇦🇿 kafir

🇲🇽 herético

Etymology

The word 'heretical' originated from the Late Latin 'haereticus', meaning 'of or pertaining to a heretic', which in turn came from the Greek 'hairetikos', meaning 'able to choose'. The term was originally used in the context of religious beliefs, particularly referring to those who chose to hold beliefs contrary to the established doctrines of the church. Over time, 'heretical' has come to be used more broadly to describe any beliefs or opinions that go against accepted norms or principles.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,166, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.