1
as in dissenter
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs
Galileo was condemned as a heretic for supporting Copernicus's thesis that the earth revolves around the sun and not vice versa
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in maverick
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs
he's the ultimate heretic: a Yankees fan living deep in the heart of the Red Sox Nation
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Recent Examples of heretic
His 1559 index counted any books written by people the church deemed heretics – anyone not speaking dogma, in the widest sense.
—
Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
The show is set in 15th century Europe at a time of inquisition, a time when heretics are burned at the stake and it is essentially forbidden to look at the stars.
—Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2025
By 1120, the church council in Jerusalem ordered that sodomites, like heretics, be burned at the stake.
—S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
The witch in question is Jovovich’s Gray Alys, introduced on the brink of being hanged as a heretic by Ash (Arly Jover), a fervent enforcer in a dystopian future ruled by both a royal house and cult-like church.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heretic
Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
The show is set in 15th century Europe at a time of inquisition, a time when heretics are burned at the stake and it is essentially forbidden to look at the stars.
—Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2025
By 1120, the church council in Jerusalem ordered that sodomites, like heretics, be burned at the stake.
—S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
The witch in question is Jovovich’s Gray Alys, introduced on the brink of being hanged as a heretic by Ash (Arly Jover), a fervent enforcer in a dystopian future ruled by both a royal house and cult-like church.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heretic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heretic
Noun
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Similar incidents also happened in Talbot County, where dissenters were imprisoned by the occupying military command.—
Paul Callahan,
Baltimore Sun,
29 May 2025
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The Nicolás Maduro regime has intensified its authoritarian grip, driving opposition figures, human rights activists, journalists, and ordinary dissenters either underground or into exile.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Garrett, a maverick who put the Portuguese town of Nazaré on the map for its massive waves, set a record there, surfing a 78-footer — imagine an eight-story office building coming up behind you.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
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Trump had called out Massie by name during the meeting, ribbing the Kentucky maverick for opposing the legislation at the heart of the president’s domestic agenda.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
20 May 2025
Noun
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The move to shutter the renegade shops — which in Manhattan alone vastly exceeded the number of Starbucks coffee shops — was widely applauded.—
Ashley Southall,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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His band of renegades is deeply committed to their mission and the members enjoy working together to overcome obstacles.—
Chip Bell,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Chicago will be the only U.S. city to see the 92-year-old iconoclast Yoko Ono's new show.—
Carrie Shepherd,
Axios,
1 Apr. 2025
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Season eight’s unapologetic iconoclast, Acid Betty, returns to the competition to kick ass and take names.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heretic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heretic. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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