Heinous describestells what something is like or means something so bad, wickedvery evil, morally wrong, or cruel, or criminal that it is shocking. It is a strong formal word, often used for serious crimes or immoralnot morally right; against accepted standards of behavior acts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /HAY-nus/
Easy pronunciation: HAY-nus (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Use this pronunciation for the adjective meaning extremely wicked or deeply criminal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Heinous Meaning
very evil and shockingly bad
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: extremely wicked or deeply criminal
Example: The court described the crime as heinous.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- flagitious — Matches the formal sense of shockingly evil or criminal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Heinous Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- flagitious
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using heinous for something merely annoying or unpleasant. It usually means far more serious than that.
- Treating it as a casual synonym for bad, ugly, or disgusting. It normally refers to serious wrongdoing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does heinous mean?
Heinous means extremely wicked or deeply criminal. It is used for acts that are shockingly evil or morally very wrong.
What are the synonyms of heinous?
A close formal synonym is flagitious. In everyday writing, people more often use phrases like very wicked or shockingly evil, depending on the context.
Is heinous a strong word?
Yes. Heinous is a very strong word and is usually used for serious crimes or extremely immoral acts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.