heinous

[hey-nuhs]

adjective

1. hateful; odious; abominable; totally reprehensible.

   a heinous offense.

   Synonyms: nefarious, villainous, atrocious, flagitious, flagrant, infamous, wicked
   Antonyms: admirable

heinous

/ ˈhiː-, ˈheɪnəs /

adjective

1. evil; atrocious

Other Word Forms

• heinously adverb
• heinousness noun
• nonheinous adjective
• nonheinously adverb
• nonheinousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heinous¹

1325–75; Middle English heynous < Middle French haineus, equivalent to haine hatred (derivative of haïr to hate < Germanic ) + -eus -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of heinous¹

C14: from Old French haineus , from haine hatred, from hair to hate, of Germanic origin; see _hate

Example Sentences

His family issued a post to condemn his "heinous act", adding that their "hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families".

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The Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians.

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“If they ran their mouth with their smartass hatred celebrating the heinous murder of that beautiful young man ... those profiles must come down,” he said on X.

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The agency has issued public appeals for information about “any person who would commit such a heinous crime against another human being.”

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"We expect the police to carry out speedy and thorough investigations to unearth the reason and culprits behind this heinous crime and ensure justice is served," he said.

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Related Words

• abhorrent 
• abominable 
• atrocious 
• flagrant 
• hateful 
• hideous 
• horrendous 
• infamous 
• nefarious 
• odious 
• outrageous 
• revolting 
• scandalous 
• shocking 
• unspeakable 
• vicious