heinous practice

USAGE SUMMARY

'heinous practice' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is widely considered wrong or immoral. For example, "The acts of slavery committed during the 19th century were an especially heinous practice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"But he opposes taxpayer-subsidized abortion, supports parental notification and opposes the heinous practice of partial-birth abortion.

The New York Times

Earlier this month, Amnesty International began a campaign to abolish what it calls the "heinous practice" of executing juvenile offenders.

The New York Times

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)���Former Vice-President Dick Cheney on Tuesday called upon the nations of the world to "once and for all ban the despicable and heinous practice of publishing torture reports".

The New Yorker

Such solidary is essential: despite South Africa being the first country in Africa to legalize same-sex marriage, homophobia remains rampant there, and "Faces" includes portraits of women who have survived the heinous practice of "corrective" rape.

The New Yorker

But in Qalizal, hashish's sedating effect has led to a heinous practice, which virtually ensures the enslavement of a next generation of carpet weavers.

Vice

A spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights described the verdict as a "breach of international human rights law," while the European Parliament said in a tweet that it was "appalled" by the "heinous practice".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

However, for that to happen, enough Muslims will need to realise that much of what passes as Islam – whether it is wearing a burqa, sex-segregation in public/private, stoning to death, killing a woman in the name of "honour" or the several other heinous practices associated with Islam – are not mentioned in or sanctioned by the Qur'an.

The Guardian - Opinion

No law has done more to reform health insurance and protect consumers against the industry's most heinous practices than the Affordable Care Act.

Huffington Post

These heinous practices feed a rot that lies at the heart of abusive, ineffective and self-defeating police and security services.

Huffington Post

The Twelve Tribes identify as Christian but endorse heinous practices like segregation (they say that multiculturalism is "just not reasonable"), misogyny (they believe that women were "created to complete man"), and some pretty questionable treatment of children (they've been at the center of controversies relating both to corporeal punishment of kids and underage labour).

Vice

The Twelve Tribes identify as Christian but endorse heinous practices like segregation (they say that multiculturalism is "just not reasonable"), misogyny (they believe that women were "created to complete man"), and some pretty questionable treatment of children (they've been at the center of controversies relating both to corporeal punishment of kids and underage labor).

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "heinous practice", ensure the context clearly establishes the action as deeply reprehensible and morally wrong.

Common error

Avoid using "heinous practice" to describe minor offenses or disagreements. This dilutes the impact of the phrase and diminishes its intended severity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heinous practice" functions as a noun phrase, where "heinous" modifies the noun "practice". It describes a specific action or behavior considered extremely wicked or reprehensible. As Ludwig AI explains, it is suitable for describing something considered widely wrong or immoral.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heinous practice" is a noun phrase used to express strong condemnation of deeply immoral or wicked actions. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is predominantly found in news and media, with a neutral to formal register. While not exceedingly common, its usage is appropriate when describing severe wrongdoing. Remember to reserve it for actions that truly warrant such strong disapproval to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abominable act

This alternative replaces 'practice' with 'act', shifting the focus to a specific instance rather than a recurring behavior. Semantic similarity is high.

atrocious deed

This option substitutes both adjectives and nouns while preserving a strong negative connotation and semantic similarity.

despicable behavior

The emphasis shifts to 'behavior,' implying observed actions with similar negative connotations. Semantic similarity remains high.

odious conduct

Replaces practice with conduct, and heinous with odious, implying similar meaning.

nefarious activity

Replaces both words, conveying a sense of wickedness, often secret or illegal.

vile custom

Uses 'vile' and 'custom' to convey a deeply offensive tradition. Semantic similarity is slightly lower as it emphasizes tradition.

egregious transgression

This option introduces 'transgression,' highlighting a violation of law or moral code. It is a more formal alternative.

outrageous violation

Outrageous implies shocking and unacceptable and violation refers to act that breaks a law or agreement.

abhorrent policy

Using "policy" indicates a formal or official rule that is deeply repugnant.

appalling tradition

The phrase evokes a tradition that is shocking and deeply disturbing.

FAQs

How can "heinous practice" be used in a sentence?

You can use "heinous practice" to describe actions considered deeply immoral or wicked, such as "The slave trade was a "heinous practice" that caused immense suffering."

What phrases have a similar meaning to "heinous practice"?

Alternatives include "abominable act", "atrocious deed", or "despicable behavior", each conveying a strong sense of moral repugnance.

When is it appropriate to use the term "heinous practice"?

Use "heinous practice" when describing actions that are not only wrong but also deeply offensive to moral principles and human decency. It's reserved for severe wrongdoing.

Is "heinous practice" formal or informal?

"Heinous practice" is generally considered a neutral to formal expression, suitable for news reports, academic papers, and formal discussions where the gravity of the subject warrants strong language.