heretic
noun
her·e·tic ˈher-ə-ˌtik 
ˈhe-rə-
1
religion : a person who differs in opinion from established religious dogma (see dogma sense 2)
especially : a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church who refuses to acknowledge or accept a revealed truth
The church regards them as heretics.
2
: one who differs in opinion from an accepted belief or doctrine : nonconformist
Synonyms
- dissenter
- dissentient
- dissident
- heresiarch
- nonconformist
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The church regards them as heretics. Galileo was condemned as a heretic for supporting Copernicus's thesis that the earth revolves around the sun and not vice versa.
Recent Examples on the Web Benedetta’s rise to power ignites the indignation of Sister Christina (Louise Chevillotte), who tries to out her as a charlatan and a heretic. 
Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2021 Likewise, referring to Francis as unorthodox or a heretic is unacceptable. The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Sep. 2021 In 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2021 An apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic automatically incurs excommunication, when the delict (or violation) is committed. Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021 In 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2021 In 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2021 The bishop has to decide whether to have the minister tried as a heretic. Celia Storey, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2021 As this example illustrates, one of the hardest questions a science commentator faces is when to take a heretic seriously. Matt Ridley, WSJ, 9 Oct. 2020 See More
Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2021 Likewise, referring to Francis as unorthodox or a heretic is unacceptable. The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Sep. 2021 In 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2021 An apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic automatically incurs excommunication, when the delict (or violation) is committed. Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021 In 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2021 In 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2021 The bishop has to decide whether to have the minister tried as a heretic. Celia Storey, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2021 As this example illustrates, one of the hardest questions a science commentator faces is when to take a heretic seriously. Matt Ridley, WSJ, 9 Oct. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English heretik, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French heretic, heretik, borrowed from Late Latin haereticus, hereticus, borrowed from Late Greek hairetikós, from hairetikós, adjective, "departing from dogma, heretical," going back to Greek, "able to choose, due to choice," from hairetós "that may be taken, eligible, chosen," verbal adjective of haireîn "to take, grasp, (middle voice) obtain, choose, prefer" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at heresy
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
heretic
noun
her·e·tic ˈher-ə-ˌtik
: a person who believes or teaches something opposed to accepted beliefs (as of a church)
heretics
noun
1
as in dissenters
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs Galileo was condemned as a heretic for supporting Copernicus's thesis that the earth revolves around the sun and not vice versa Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dissenters
- dissidents
- renegades
- heresiarchs
- infidels
- schismatics
- sectarians
- dissentients
- unbelievers
- nonconformists
- separatists
- apostates
- defectors
- disbelievers
- bohemians
- misbelievers
- separationists
- individualists
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- believers
- conformists
- conformers
2
as in mavericks
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs he's the ultimate heretic: a Yankees fan living deep in the heart of the Red Sox Nation Synonyms & Similar Words
- mavericks
- bohemians
- iconoclasts
- nonconformists
- deviants
- eccentrics
- individualists
- loners
- freaks
- free spirits
- anomalies
- lone wolves
- lone rangers
- freethinkers
- enfants terribles
- outsiders
- nuts
- kooks
- crackpots
- bohos
- nonconformers
- characters
- cranks
- weirdos
- counterculturists
- oddballs
- screwballs
- misfits
- codgers
- aberrants
- eight balls
- crackbrains
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adherents
- conformists
- followers
- supporters
- sheep
- conformers
- destructionism
- destructionist
- destructionists
- destructions
- destructive
- destructive distillation
- destructive sorites
- destructively
- destructiveness
- destructivenesses
- destructivities
- destructivity
- destructor
- destructors
- destructs
- desublimate
- desublimation
- desubstantival
- desuetude
- desuetudes
- desugar
- desugared
- desugaring
- desugarize
- desugars