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heathen Synonyms

Another word for heathen

Choosing another word for heathen depends on context, so the 22 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 5 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

A person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially one who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim) as regarded by those who do.

Usage Example

"Medieval chroniclers frequently referred to the polytheistic tribes along their borders as heathens."

Strongest
pagan
Strong
infidel
idolater
unbeliever
nonbeliever
heretic

• noun (Context 2)

An unenlightened, uncouth, or uncultured person who lacks manners or moral principles (often used humorously).

Usage Example

"He called his friends heathens for drinking fine espresso out of paper cups."

Strongest
barbarian
Strong
savage
philistine
boor
troglodyte
yahoo

• adjective (Context 3)

Relating to a heathen or heathens, especially concerning polytheistic or non-Abrahamic religious traditions.

Usage Example

"The ancient monument was originally built as a site for pagan worship before being converted into a chapel."

Strongest
pagan
heathenish
Strong
idolatrous
irreligious
ungodly

• adjective (Context 4)

Strange, uncivilized, or lacking moral and cultural refinement.

Usage Example

"She jokingly scolded her roommates for their uncivilized table manners during dinner."

Strongest
uncivilized
Strong
barbaric
barbarian
savage
uncouth
uncultured

• noun (Context 5)

An adherent of Heathenry, a modern pagan religious movement that reconstructs pre-Christian Germanic and Norse polytheism.

Usage Example

"Modern heathens often gather at seasonal festivals to honor ancestral Germanic deities."

Strong
neopagan
pagan
polytheist

Opposites of heathen

The opposite of heathen shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

civilized
believer
cultured
refined
devotee
enlightened
pious
godly
See all opposites of heathen

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Heathen. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/heathen
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