heretical

American  

[huh-ret-i-kuhl] / həˈrɛt ɪ kəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of heretics or heresy.

   Synonyms:

   radical, dissident, unconventional, unorthodox

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Other Word Forms

• heretically adverb
• hereticalness noun
• nonheretical adjective
• nonheretically adverb
• semiheretical adjective

Etymology

Origin of heretical

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word haereticālis. See heretic, -al ¹

Example Sentences

That view isn’t especially heretical among some Fed watchers, given disagreements about the role the Fed’s balance sheet plays in the markets.

From Barron's • Oct. 8, 2025

It was branded as heretical by Puritan authorities.

From Slate • Aug. 21, 2025

In this regard, she and Helaena hew closer to traditional medieval mysticism, which did not typically use sex for religious emancipation, rather than the practices ascribed to some of the more esoteric heretical sects.

From Salon • Aug. 10, 2024

For the past year, two philosophy professors have been calling around to prominent authors and public intellectuals with an unusual, perhaps heretical, proposal.

From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2024

Arnauld’s preoccupation with the fact developed out of the great dispute over whether Jansenism, of which Arnauld was the leading light, was heretical.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton