heinous
/'heinəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Extremely wicked or evil; profoundly criminal: Describes an act, crime, or person that is shockingly and utterly reprehensible, often inspiring horror or disgust due to its severity and moral depravity.
- Utterly odious or abominable: Can describe something so bad it is hateful or loathsome.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- The court described the murder as a heinous act of violence.
- He was convicted of heinous crimes against humanity.
- Such heinous betrayal of trust is unforgivable.
Advanced Usage
- "heinousness" (noun): The quality or state of being heinous.
- The heinousness of the offense justified the maximum sentence.
- Often used in formal, legal, or journalistic contexts to emphasize the gravity of a misdeed. It is a strong descriptor, rarely used for minor wrongs.
Variants and Related Words
- Flagitious (adj): (archaic/literary) Extremely wicked; villainous. Often used similarly to "heinous."
- Atrocious (adj): Shockingly cruel or wicked; can be synonymous but also means very bad in quality.
- Monstrous (adj): Horribly wicked or inhuman; also means abnormally large.
- Odious (adj): Deserving hatred or repulsion; extremely unpleasant.
Synonyms
- Abominable
- Outrageous
- Vile
- Horrific
- Egregious (particularly for offenses)
Antonyms
- Commendable
- Noble
- Virtuous
- Admirable
- Exemplary
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "Heinous crime": A standard collocation, especially in legal terminology, for a particularly atrocious offense.
- The new law targets perpetrators of heinous crimes.
- While "heinous" itself is not typically part of phrasal verbs, it is commonly found in phrases like "heinous act," "heinous deed," or "heinous behavior."
Adjective
- extremely wicked, deeply criminal
- a flagitious crime
- heinous accusations