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Definition of heretical

heretical

/həˈrɛt.ɪ.kəl/
he · ret · i · cal
Adverb:heretically
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heretical Lexical Profile

heretical Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Believing in or practicing religious heresy; holding beliefs at variance with established orthodox religious doctrine.

Example

"The medieval tribunal condemned the scholar's treatise for containing heretical teachings."

2

Holding an opinion sharply at odds with what is generally accepted in a particular field or society.

Example

"Proposing a four-day workweek was once considered a heretical idea in corporate management."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for heretical

• Nearby Words

hereof
heresy
heretic
heretical
heretofore
hereunto
herewith

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'heretik', via Old French and Late Latin 'haereticus', ultimately from Ancient Greek 'hairetikos' (able to choose), from 'hairein' (to take or choose).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Heretical. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/heretical
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