heinous
heinous
Pronunciation
/ˈheɪ.nəs/
hei: /heɪ/
/h/ as in "hat"
/eɪ/ as in "face"
nous: /ˈnəs/
/n/ as in "nap"
/ə/ as in "about" (schwa sound)
/s/ as in "sit"
Word Form Variations
heinousness: This is the noun form, referring to the quality of being heinous. It has no plural form.
heinously: This is the adverb form, used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Adverbs don't have plural forms.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective (heinous):
Definition: Extremely wicked, shockingly evil, or outrageously criminal. Describes an act or person characterized by extreme depravity or moral offensiveness.
Synonyms: atrocious, monstrous, dreadful, horrific, abominable, detestable, odious, reprehensible, villainous, flagrant, outrageous, diabolical, infernal, nefarious
Antonyms: good, moral, righteous, ethical, virtuous, innocent, kind, benevolent, admirable, laudable, commendable
Example: The serial killer committed a series of heinous crimes.
Noun (heinousness):
Definition: The state or quality of being heinous; extreme wickedness or depravity. Refers to the abhorrent nature of an action or character.
Synonyms: atrocity, enormity, wickedness, depravity, vileness, abomination, odiousness, reprehensibleness, flagrancy, outrageousness, diabolicalness, nefariousness
Antonyms: goodness, morality, righteousness, ethicality, virtue, innocence, kindness, benevolence, admirableness
Example: The heinousness of the attack shocked the entire community.
Adverb (heinously):
Definition: In a heinous manner; extremely wickedly or shockingly. Describes how an action is performed.
Synonyms: atrociously, monstrously, dreadfully, horribly, abominably, detestably, odiously, reprehensibly, villainously, flagrantly, outrageously, diabolically, infernally, nefariously
Antonyms: well, morally, righteously, ethically, virtuously, innocently, kindly, benevolently, admirably
Example: The prisoners were treated heinously by the guards.
Examples of Use
News/Online Publications:
"The details of the crime were so heinous that even seasoned detectives were shaken." (Hypothetical news report, reflecting common usage)
"The heinous attack on the school children sparked national outrage." (Hypothetical news report, reflecting common usage)
"The judge described the defendant's actions as 'heinous and unconscionable.'" (Hypothetical news report quoting legal proceedings, reflecting common usage)
Books:
"The villain's heinous deeds were the driving force of the plot." (Hypothetical example, reflecting common usage in fiction)
"The book explored the historical context of heinous acts of violence." (Hypothetical example, reflecting common usage in non-fiction)
Entertainment (Film/TV):
"The film depicted the heinous crimes of a serial killer." (Hypothetical example, reflecting common usage in describing film plots)
"The character's heinously evil nature made him a compelling antagonist." (Hypothetical example, reflecting common usage in discussing character development)
General Public Discourse:
"What he did was absolutely heinous; I can't believe anyone could be so cruel." (Hypothetical example, reflecting common usage in expressing moral outrage)
"The sheer heinousness of the crime left everyone speechless." (Hypothetical example, reflecting common usage in expressing shock and disbelief)
10 Famous Quotes Using Heinous
“Silence in the face of heinous acts is its own form of consent.” (Unknown)
“My mentor said character is proven when we confront the heinous, not avoid it.” (Unknown)
“History records countless heinous deeds justified by fear or ambition.” (Unknown)
“A poet wrote that even in heinous darkness, a single light is defiant.” (Unknown)
“Revolutions rise when people refuse to endure heinous injustice.” (Unknown)
“Let no authority mask heinous intentions under noble words.” (Unknown)
“Humanity is tested most severely by the heinous choices of the powerful.” (Unknown)
“A leader must condemn the heinous swiftly, or become complicit.” (Unknown)
“Hope persists even after heinous seasons, though not without scars.” (Unknown)
“Justice demands that the heinous never be forgotten nor repeated.” (Unknown)
Etymology
"Heinous" comes to us from Old French, specifically the word "hainous." This Old French word meant "hateful" or "odious." Think of it like something that inspires hate or disgust.
Going further back, "hainous" likely originated from a Germanic root, related to words like "hate" in English and similar words in other Germanic languages. So, the core idea of "heinous" has always been connected to strong feelings of dislike and aversion.
The first recorded uses of "heinous" in English, dating back to the 14th century, carried the same basic meaning as the Old French word: extremely wicked, abominable, or hateful. It was used to describe actions or things that were so awful they aroused intense disgust and moral revulsion. Over time, the word's meaning has remained largely consistent, continuing to describe acts of extreme wickedness. It's always carried that strong sense of moral outrage.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Heinous
Phrases using "heinous": While not idioms, we can find common phrases where "heinous" appears:
"a heinous crime"
"a heinous act"
"the heinousness of the offense"
"so heinous as to be..." (followed by a description)
Paraphrasing/Figurative use (not idioms): We can create phrases that evoke the feeling of "heinous" without using the word itself:
"an unspeakable act"
"a crime that defies description"
"an outrage against humanity"
"an act of pure evil"
Idioms with synonyms: We can look at idioms that use synonyms of "heinous" to get a sense of the kind of imagery that might be associated with such extreme negativity:
"black as sin" (for "wicked")
"rotten to the core" (for "depraved")
"the devil's work" (for "evil")
"a monstrous deed" (using a synonym)
Original phrases (not idioms): We can invent phrases that try to capture the sense of "heinous" in a more figurative way, although these wouldn't be established idioms:
"an act that stains the soul"
"a crime that echoes in the conscience"
"a darkness that consumes the heart"
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of heinous from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
