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

Derived Forms

• ˈheinously, adverb
• ˈheinousness, noun

Other Words From

• heinous·ly adverb
• heinous·ness noun
• non·heinous adjective
• non·heinous·ly adverb
• non·heinous·ness 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

France and Germany’s legal codes permit a form of universal jurisdiction, which allows their national courts to prosecute individuals accused of heinous offenses committed in any county.

From Time

Those Republicans who defended him and his heinous acts will find history holds them to account.

From Washington Blade

Doctors, the FBI and local law enforcement are all called in to not only try to solve a medical mystery, but also a heinous crime.

From Washington Post

This is a heinous and violent assault on the heart of our democracy.

From Washington Post

Environmental criminals, authoritarian regimes, tax evaders and financial criminals, drug traffickers, wildlife poachers, and gun runners—all those responsible for the most heinous crimes have turned to anonymous shell companies.

From Fortune

“Today, we are before a heinous crime the likes of which are unprecedented in our safe country,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

How was he and the brothers Bridgman found guilty, without any physical evidence tying them to this heinous crime?

From The Daily Beast

The Israeli response to the heinous crimes committed by Palestinians often seems overkill.

From The Daily Beast

Purists sometimes seem to think that disregarding rules about prepositions is as heinous as torturing children.

From The Daily Beast

Every year—maybe every month—America is disgraced with an especially heinous lawsuit.

From The Daily Beast

He was thrashed at school before the Jews and the hubshi, for the heinous crime of bringing home false reports of progress.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not a heinous sin, nor would it affect his moral character.

From Project Gutenberg

Next she was heard discussing and excusing the most heinous crimes of which human nature can be guilty.

From Project Gutenberg

Still more heinous was the verdict based upon evidence which, if enough in quantity, was manifestly worthless in quality.

From Project Gutenberg

All three were asked if their offences were not heinous, and if they had not been justly tried and lawfully condemned.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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