heinous
Adjective
Medium difficulty
What does “heinous” mean?
adjective.(of a person or wrongful act, especially a crime) utterly odious or wicked.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in passages related to crime, morality, or social issues. It emphasizes the extreme moral repugnance of actions or behaviors, suggesting a level of wickedness that goes beyond mere wrongdoing, unlike less severe terms such as "bad" or "immoral."
Common Confusions
Heinous implies an extreme level of wickedness or moral repugnance, while immoral usually suggests a lack of morality but not necessarily to the same shocking degree.
Do not choose heinous if the context emphasizes mildness or acceptability rather than being utterly odious or wicked.
Example Sentences
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I hope they catch the person responsible for that heinous crime.