heathenish

[ hee-thuh-nish ]

adjective

1. of or relating to heathens:

   heathenish practices of idolatry.

2. like or befitting heathens; barbarous.

ˈheathenish

/ ˈhiːðənɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a heathen or heathen culture

Derived Forms

• ˈheathenishness, noun
• ˈheathenishly, adverb

Other Words From

• heathen·ish·ly adverb
• heathen·ish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heathenish¹

before 900; Old English hǣthenisc. See heathen, -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Abolitionist Rodney French, a Massachusetts merchant and politician, called it the “most disgraceful, atrocious, unjust, detestable, heathenish, barbarous, diabolical, man-degrading, woman-murdering, demon-pleasing, Heaven-defying act ever perpetrated.”

From Los Angeles Times

The celebration has its roots in pagan rituals and is still going strong despite a 1714 law that outlawed it as “superstitious, idolatrous and sinfule, an abominable heathenish practice”.

From The Guardian

“Give us another war with Germany, Mexico and all the other heathenish countries in preference to another blast of this distressing flu,” a physician from Tennessee wrote.

From Slate

Better Joe hath suggested some specific remedies, which Isaac the Joiner decries loudly as the cant of heathenish superstition; and indeed, one wonders at the applications of bone.

From Literature

They tell us that our institutions are corrupt, that our societies are patriarchal, and that the African traditional religions are heathenish.

From The Guardian