HEATHENISH Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

heathenish

adjective

ˈhē-t͟hə-nish

Definition of heathenish

as in barbarian

not civilized found it heathenish for the teenagers to carouse through the graveyard, showing no respect for the dead

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of heathenish So repealing the Johnson Amendment is just another layer of concrete in the foundation of trust between this heathenish president and his loyal conservative Christian flock. — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, 2 Nov. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heathenish

Adjective

Language would have been a part of the divide between Roman and barbarian.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
For the design of the barbarian figure, Sweet reached out to Mark Taylor, an artist and designer at Mattel.

— Sanat Pai RaikarAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026

Definition of barbarian

Adjective

Painfully aware of this, Shawn waited for one of the drunk old men to comment, heckle, make one of those incomprehensible jokes that drew rude laughter from adults.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
By the same token, French-style discretion can be interpreted by American visitors as inattentive and rude.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of rude

Adjective

The Indian pilot who fought off a savage attack by his copilot and helped prevent an apparent hijack of a Flydubai plane heading to Israel with more than 170 people on board is being hailed as a hero.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index weathered a savage 30% drawdown, has been choppily trendless for two months, then in recent days finally broke above its downtrend and surmounted the 50-day moving average.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of savage

Adjective

That set the stage for a strange wild-card game against Philadelphia in which the Eagles built a 51-7 lead and held on despite the Lions scoring 30 points down the stretch.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Close to 10,000 fans who plunked down $10 a ticket on Saturday to essentially witness a glorified practice at the Sixers’ home arena went wild for James' debut.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of wild

Browse Nearby Words

heathen

heathenish

heathenism

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“Heathenish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heathenish. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of heathenish

adjective

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