heretical
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of heretical
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word haereticālis. See heretic, -al 1
Explanation
Something that departs from normally held beliefs (especially religious, political, or social norms) is heretical. If your family is resistant to change, they may consider your idea of making pancakes for dinner to be completely heretical. Heretical is the adjective form of the noun heretic, which comes from the Greek word hairetikos, meaning able to choose. What is considered a heretical point of view can change over time. Examples of positions that were once considered heretical but are now accepted as facts include: the Earth is round, the Earth circles the Sun, and a little bit of chocolate is actually good for you.
Vocabulary lists containing heretical
The Handmaid's Tale
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The Importance of Being Earnest
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Purple Hibiscus
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She also realized something heretical: She was painfully bored playing with her kids on the floor.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
With neither party offering an alternative to policies of mass incarceration, recognizing the humanity of those convicted of crimes seems outlandish — and offering them a path to redemption seems downright heretical.
From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026
That view isn’t especially heretical among some Fed watchers, given disagreements about the role the Fed’s balance sheet plays in the markets.
From Barron's • Oct. 8, 2025
Call me heretical, but sometimes I feel that way about L.A.’s palm trees.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2025
In the old days he had hidden a heretical mind beneath an appearance of conformity.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
