plural heresies
1
a
: adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma (see dogma sense 2)
They were accused of heresy.
b
: denial of a revealed truth by a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church
c
: an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma
2
a
: dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice
To disagree with the party leadership was heresy.
b
: an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards
our democratic heresy which holds that … truth is to be found by majority vote—
M. W. Straight
M. W. Straight
Examples of heresy in a Sentence
They were accused of heresy.
He was preaching dangerous heresies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Though neither Kempe nor Joan knew how to read and write, both found ways to make their voices heard, the former by dictating her story to a scribe and the latter by testifying at her 1431 heresy trial.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Joan was tried by a pro-English court for heresy in 1431, where she was found guilty.
—Tacita Quinn, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024
At approximately the age of 19, was burnt at the stake, convicted of heresy.
—Tacita Quinn, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024
The old virtues of compromise and cooperation across the aisle are increasingly seen as heresy or relics of a bygone age.
—Andrew Tisch, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heresy 
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Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Joan was tried by a pro-English court for heresy in 1431, where she was found guilty.
—Tacita Quinn, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024
At approximately the age of 19, was burnt at the stake, convicted of heresy.
—Tacita Quinn, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024
The old virtues of compromise and cooperation across the aisle are increasingly seen as heresy or relics of a bygone age.
—Andrew Tisch, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heresy
Dictionary Entries Near heresy
Cite this Entry
“Heresy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heresy. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
heresy
noun
her·e·sy
ˈher-ə-sē 
plural heresies
1
: religious opinion that is opposed to the doctrines of a church
2
: opinion that is opposed to a generally accepted belief
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