variants
also heretic
as in dissident
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
the belief that women should be allowed to have careers outside the home was once considered heretical
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heretical
Both of them viewed Christianity and Judaism as so alike that each faith might view the other as a heretical version of its own teachings.
—
Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 27 Oct. 2024
The Gulf states wanted nothing to do with Obama’s ideas of sharing the region with Iran and even less to do with his heretical ideas about embracing democracy and the Arab Spring uprisings.
—Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 26 July 2022
The weeks leading up to Imbrie’s killing saw a spate of violent incidents against the Baha’i, a minority religious group viewed as a heretical sect by the majority Shiite Muslim population.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
Just the idea of extinction, writes Taylor, was heretical.
—Brenda Wineapple, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heretical 
Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 27 Oct. 2024
The Gulf states wanted nothing to do with Obama’s ideas of sharing the region with Iran and even less to do with his heretical ideas about embracing democracy and the Arab Spring uprisings.
—Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 26 July 2022
The weeks leading up to Imbrie’s killing saw a spate of violent incidents against the Baha’i, a minority religious group viewed as a heretical sect by the majority Shiite Muslim population.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
Just the idea of extinction, writes Taylor, was heretical.
—Brenda Wineapple, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heretical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heretical
Adjective
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Politics Trump won’t punish Saudi Arabia or its crown prince for killing of dissident journalist Nov. 20, 2018 Saudi Arabia does, however, rely predominantly on U.S.-made weapons and defense systems, which could be a part of the investment.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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The most significant package came in February 2024, when Biden announced over 500 new sanctions against Moscow, prompted both by the invasion and the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In the dissenting view, the star collapses to the edge of the event horizon and then hovers there, or rebounds and explodes.—
Corey S. Powell,
Discover Magazine,
26 Feb. 2015
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The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 June 2022
Adjective
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Two of this year’s contenders hope to chart an unconventional path.—
Kyle Buchanan,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
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While some praised his unconventional love life, many were far from impressed.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Despite their myriad out-there elements, his books were often optioned for films, but only one was ever made — Gus Van Sant’s 1993 adaptation of Cowgirls, which was a critical and commercial flop.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
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That’s probably the most out-there aspect of the show.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near heretical
Cite this Entry
“Heretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heretical. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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