heinous

[hey-nuhs]

See more synonyms for heinous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

hateful; odious; abominable; totally reprehensible: a heinous offense.

Origin of heinous

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

Related formshei·nous·ly, adverbhei·nous·ness, nounnon·hei·nous, adjectivenon·hei·nous·ly, adverbnon·hei·nous·ness, noun

Synonyms for heinous

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

wicked, infamous, flagrant, flagitious, atrocious, villainous, nefarious.

Antonyms for heinous

admirable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for heinous

outrageous, atrocious, scandalous, flagrant, vicious, odious, abhorrent, nefarious, infamous, hateful, horrendous, abominable, revolting, hideous, shocking, unspeakable, accursed, awful, bad, beastly

Examples from the Web for heinous

Contemporary Examples of heinous

“Today, we are before a heinous crime the likes of which are unprecedented in our safe country,” he said.
Abu Dhabi Treats U.S. Teacher’s Murder as Terrorist Attack
Chris Allbritton
December 4, 2014
How was he and the brothers Bridgman found guilty, without any physical evidence tying them to this heinous crime?
For Ricky Jackson, a Just Verdict—But 39 Years Too Late
Cliff Schecter
November 26, 2014
The Israeli response to the heinous crimes committed by Palestinians often seems overkill.
Intifada 3.0: Growing Unrest and a Plot to Kill an Israeli Minister
Creede Newton
November 21, 2014
Purists sometimes seem to think that disregarding rules about prepositions is as heinous as torturing children.
Go Ahead, End With a Preposition: Grammar Rules We All Can Live With
Nick Romeo
November 3, 2014
She is even, it has been deemed, “annoying on Instagram,” that most contemporary of heinous crimes.
Why Does Everyone Hate Lea Michele?
Tim Teeman
October 9, 2014

Historical Examples of heinous

Can a little coquetry in a good cause be such a heinous offence?
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
This is the twenty-seventh time we've had you up for this heinous, fearsome crime.
Mixed Faces
Roy Norton
It was not a heinous sin, nor would it affect his moral character.
A Final Reckoning
G. A. Henty
It was an error of artistry that he had committed; a heinous crime!
The Yellow Claw
Sax Rohmer
I call Thee to witness, my God, that I have considered how heinous has been my sin.
Thais
Anatole France

British Dictionary definitions for heinous

heinous

adjective

evil; atrocious

Derived Formsheinously, adverbheinousness, noun

Word Origin for heinous

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for heinous

adj.

late 14c., from Old French hainos "inconvenient, awkward; hateful, unpleasant; odious" (Modern French haineux), from haine "hatred," from hair "to hate," from Frankish *hatjan (cf. Old Saxon haton, Old English hatian "to hate;" see hate (v.)). Related: Heinously; heinousness.