Heinous

/ˈheɪnəs/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Utterly odious or wicked; shockingly evil.

The heinous crime shocked the entire community.

Deserving of hate or contempt.

His heinous behavior during the trial led to his conviction.

Involving a morally reprehensible act.

The detectives uncovered a heinous plot that endangered many innocent lives.

Extremely bad or cruel.

The heinous actions of the regime were condemned worldwide.

Middle English, from Old French haineux (from haine ‘hatred’), from Latin iniquinus ‘unjust, wicked’.

heinous crime

A crime that is shockingly wicked or evil.

heinous act

An act that is extremely wicked or reprehensible.

heinousness

The quality of being heinous.

malevolent

Having or showing a wish to do evil to others.

Insanely bad or terrible.

That movie was heinous; I can't believe I wasted my time on it.

Something that is outrageously bad.

The service at that restaurant was heinous!