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Wordabulary

heinous

Pronunciation
Adjective C1 Advanced

Quick answer

Extremely wicked or shocking, especially describing a crime.

"The court called it one of the most heinous crimes in the town's history."

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms

atrocious monstrous

Usage notes

Almost always paired with "crime" in legal and news writing.

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "The court called it one of the most _____ crimes in the town's history."

Answer: heinous

In your own words, what does "heinous" mean?

Extremely wicked or shocking, especially describing a crime.

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