heinous

/ˈheɪnəs/adjective

Shockingly evil or wicked.

Example sentence

“The court described the fraud against elderly victims as a heinous act.”

Reserved for the gravest acts; applying it to small annoyances only works as deliberate exaggeration. Legal English keeps it in 'heinous crime'. Say HAY-nus.

Related words

helmetA strong covering worn on the head for protection, historically part of a soldier's armor.heightenTo raise something up, or to make it stronger or more intense.hemisphereOne half of the Earth, such as the northern, southern, eastern, or western half.heftyBig, heavy, and powerful; impressively large.herbA leafy green plant, or its leaves, used to add flavor to cooking.heedlessPaying no attention to something; careless of risks or warnings.