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

"It's illegal. No one's going to ever participate in such a heinous thing," he said.

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A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase said the firm regrets "any association" they had with Epstein, and added that the firm "did not help him commit his heinous acts".

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Russia struck residential parts of Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Friday, Ukraine said, killing six people in a single apartment block in attacks President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced as "heinous" and aimed at civilians.

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"The country has witnessed a heinous terror incident, perpetrated by anti-national forces, through a car explosion near the Red Fort", a cabinet statement read, after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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"It's to warn other people, no matter who you are, where you are, as long as you commit such heinous crimes against the Chinese people, you will pay the price."

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Related Words

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