English Dictionary |
HEINOUS
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Dictionary entry overview: What does heinous mean?
• HEINOUS (adjective)
The adjective HEINOUS has 1 sense:
1. extremely wicked, deeply criminal
Familiarity information: HEINOUS used as an adjective is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Extremely wicked, deeply criminal
Synonyms:
flagitious; heinous
Context example:
heinous accusations
Similar:
wicked (morally bad in principle or practice)
Derivation:
heinousness (the quality of being shockingly cruel and inhumane)
Context examples
‘You may as well face the matter,’ said I; ‘you have been caught in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous.’
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Let me then advise you, dear sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offense.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
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