as in horrific
very bad or evil; deserving of hate or contempt
These murders were especially heinous. the heinous brutality of the attack
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of heinous
This policy, introduced in Annapolis for years, aims to abolish the juvenile transfer process, thereby allowing these heinous acts to be handled within the juvenile court system, which remains confidential and operates under a cloak of secrecy.
—
Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2025
This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
There have been countless stories of people having rough experiences when in jail, especially celebrities or those with heinous charges.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 7 July 2025
The heinous brutality to women and children is well documented.
—Sanford Shuster, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for heinous
Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2025
This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
There have been countless stories of people having rough experiences when in jail, especially celebrities or those with heinous charges.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 7 July 2025
The heinous brutality to women and children is well documented.
—Sanford Shuster, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for heinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heinous
Adjective
-
California homeowner’s insurance premiums were already rising before the horrific Southern California wildfires in January.—
Scott Cohn,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
-
But the first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
But the gruesome truth remains — more than 120 are people are dead, including children.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
-
Other all-original haunted houses will include Jason Universe, which takes guests back to the summer camp where, one Friday the 13th, the gruesome legend was born.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Members of the furry community around the globe teamed up to comb through the Telegram channel and find the perpetrators behind the sickening animal torture and abuse.—
Melissa Locker,
Time,
17 July 2025
-
Greater Boston communities at the center of the ongoing sanitation worker strike are taking Republic Services to court, seeking immediate relief as trash piles mount, attracting rats and giving off a sickening stench.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
Bonnie came to her father's defense in May 2020 after Chapman shared the shocking news of his engagement to girlfriend Francie just 10 months after Beth’s death.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
21 July 2025
-
This shocking breach transformed a beloved feed into a source of confusion and pain.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
That being cold is cool and being hot with a side of humidity is rather disgusting.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
16 July 2025
-
There is no way around it: Toilet brushes are disgusting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
If Trump takes Powell’s scalp, most observers warn, terrible things will unfold because of the ballooning national debt.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
But when terrible news arrives about her ex, all eyes turn to Ana — whose reputation isn't exactly sterling.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Because of Denise Gough's human frailty as a woman destroyed by her own ambition and Kyle Soller's cowardice in the face of a horrible truth.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
23 July 2025
-
Soak up the gall of losing, absorb the horrible information, feel it to the full, go there—and then rebound, with superb elasticity.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
In 1965 Martin got into an ugly battle with President Lyndon B. Johnson.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
These are the kind of ugly games that sometimes get played when GMs and coaches grow apart and pressure builds on their job securities and livelihoods.—
Pat Leonard,
Hartford Courant,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heinous. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share