heretically

IPA/həˈret.ɪ.kəl.i/
IPA/həˈret̬.ɪ.kəl.i/

heretically — adverb

1. by expressing a view that most people in a society or professional group strongl

1.adverbC1
Definition

by expressing a view that most people in a society or professional group strongly disagree with or find disturbing

Example

The economist argued heretically that raising taxes on the wealthy would boost overall growth.

heretically + verb of opinion + that-clause

When the young filmmaker spoke heretically about the celebrated director's work, the audience gasped.

verb + heretically + about [topic]

Common collocations
  • argue heretically
  • suggest heretically
  • claim heretically
  • speak heretically about
Synonyms
  • dissidently

    stronger emphasis on political or authority-based disagreement; often implies active resistance

  • iconoclastically

    suggests attacking or challenging cherished institutions or traditions, not just disagreeing

Antonyms
  • orthodoxly

    in a way that follows accepted beliefs or standards without question

Grammar Patterns

heretically + verb

verb + heretically

heretically + [opinion verb] + that-clause

Usage Note

Common with verbs of expressing an opinion, such as 'argue', 'suggest', 'claim', or 'speak'. The adverb signals that the opinion itself is at odds with what most people believe.

Common Mistakes

He heretically went to the store.
He heretically argued that the company's strategy was flawed.
'Heretically' describes the way an opinion is held or expressed, not a physical action.

2. by holding or voicing a personal belief that contradicts a church's official tea

2.adverbC1
Definition

by holding or voicing a personal belief that contradicts a church's official teaching or sacred text

Example

Salma was accused of thinking heretically when she questioned the church's position on forgiveness.

passive: accused of + [verb] + heretically

During the inquisition, anyone who spoke heretically about the soul could face severe punishment.

Common collocations
  • think heretically
  • speak heretically
  • write heretically
  • teach heretically
Synonyms
  • blasphemously

    stronger and more offensive — implies showing contempt for God or sacred things, not just holding a different opinion

Antonyms
  • piously

    in a devoutly religious way that follows doctrine faithfully

Grammar Patterns

verb + heretically

heretically + verb of belief

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is restricted to religious contexts. The subject is typically a believer, theologian, or clergy member, and the opinion concerns doctrine or sacred texts.

Common Mistakes

She dressed heretically for the party.
She argued heretically that the church should allow women to lead services.
This sense is about religious beliefs, not about style or behaviour.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe departure from accepted norms, but they differ in connotation and domain. 'Dissidently' carries a political flavour — it implies active opposition to authority or established power structures, often in a collective or protest context. 'Iconoclastically' is more intense and specific: it suggests attacking or tearing down cherished institutions, traditions, or idols, not just disagreeing with them. 'Unorthodoxly' is the mildest and most neutral of the four — it simply means doing something in a non-traditional way, without the negative charge of 'heretically' or the aggressive tone of 'iconoclastically'. 'Radically' emphasises the degree of change (going to the root) rather than the oppositional stance. For example: a teacher who uses games in class teaches unorthodoxly; a journalist who exposes government corruption writes dissidently; an artist who mocks national symbols paints iconoclastically; an activist who demands complete systemic change thinks radically.

dissidentlyiconoclasticallyunorthodoxlyradically

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Ultimately from Greek 'hairetikos' (able to choose, heretical), from 'hairein' (to choose). The word passed into Latin as 'haereticus', then into Old French as 'heretique', and entered English as 'heretic' in the 14th century. The adjective 'heretical' and the adverb 'heretically' were formed in English by adding '-ical' and '-ly' to 'heretic' during the 16th–17th centuries, a period when religious controversies made such vocabulary widely necessary.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1