heretic
Rejects official belief
A heretic is someone who holds beliefs contrary to established doctrine, especially religious orthodoxy.
The word carries the weight of institutions—churches, political movements—that define correct belief and punish deviation.
The church condemned him as a heretic.
In looser use, heretic describes anyone who challenges accepted wisdom: a heretic in the world of classical economics.
The tone ranges from genuine condemnation to playful defiance.
One who insults deity
- infidelNonbeliever in another's creed
- apostateOne who renounces faith
- excommunicateExpel from church membership
- unbelieverOne lacking faith
heathen · pagan · recusant · misbeliever · idolater · backslider · sectary · dissenter
Deserter of a cause
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
- deserterOne who abandons duty
apostate · dissident · outcast · pariah · exile · fallen · excommunicated · condemned
Opponent of orthodoxy
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- subversiveSeeking to undermine authority
insurgent · provocateur · agitator · challenger · dissident · firebrand · troublemaker · rabble-rouser
Attacker of cherished beliefs
- skepticOne who doubts claims
- agnosticFlexible across platforms
- atheistOne denying gods exist
- rationalistOne guided by reason
secularist · doubter · questioner · contrarian · maverick · independent · unorthodox · irreverent
Rigidly devoted to faction
- splinterThin sharp fragment
- breakawaySudden separation from group
- factionGroup within group
- divisionSplitting into parts
rift · dissent · separatist · reformation · excommunication · denomination · heterodoxy · apostasy
Attacker of cherished beliefs
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
reformer · revolutionary · unorthodox · unconventional · disruptor · challenger · original · provocative
blasphemer
One who insults deity
- infidelNonbeliever in another's creed
- apostateOne who renounces faith
- excommunicateExpel from church membership
unbeliever · heathen · pagan · recusant · misbeliever · idolater · backslider · sectary · dissenter · nonconformist
renegade
Deserter of a cause
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
deserter · apostate · dissident · outcast · pariah · exile · fallen · excommunicated · condemned · denounced
dissenter
Opponent of orthodoxy
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
subversive · insurgent · provocateur · agitator · challenger · dissident · firebrand · troublemaker · rabble-rouser · Luther
iconoclast
Attacker of cherished beliefs
rationalist · secularist · doubter · questioner · contrarian · maverick · independent · unorthodox · irreverent · freethinking
sectarian
Rigidly devoted to faction
division · rift · dissent · separatist · reformation · excommunication · denomination · heterodoxy · apostasy · schismatic
iconoclast
Attacker of cherished beliefs
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
maverick · reformer · revolutionary · unorthodox · unconventional · disruptor · challenger · original · provocative · groundbreaking
- freethinkersfreethinker, freethinkers, secularists, rationalist, rationalists
- hereticsGnostics, Marcellus, apostate, schismatic
- outsidersoutcast, outsider, outcasts, pariah, misfit
- renegadesrenegade, rebel, traitor, turncoat, defector
- colonial faithPilgrims, Puritans, Calvinism, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth Colony
- dissentersdissenter, dissenters, dissidents, dissident, nonconformists
hereticbeliever
One who accepts something
faithful · true believer · adherent · devout · orthodox
hereticconformist
One following accepted norms
follower · conformer · yes-man · sheep · true believer