Herodism
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of Herodism. alt-of, no-plural
- 2 The killing of unwanted people, especially children. uncountable
"In 1702 he wrote in opposition to prevalent intolerance a phamphlet entitled "The shortest way with Dissenters," in which he counselled the violent and total extinction of all who differed with the state-sanctioned creed. He was, of course, out-Heroding Herod to mock Herodism : but his imitation was too good and he was clapped into Newgate and condemned to the pillory."
- 3 Indulgence in or worship of worldly spectacle and power rather than that which is good or worthy. obsolete, uncountable
"The target of defamation has been hurled from the pulpit and every rostrum upheaved to foster indolence and selfish principality of power. This mock heroism, or Herodism, is disgusting and sickening to a soul capable of finding worth outside of the world's pomp .and glitter, — outside of her charnel-house of ostentatious merit."
- 4 A political stance of allowing domination by a more powerful country, usually in order to preserve some level of control rather than being vanquished. uncountable
"The author understands the person, society, and culture as three aspects of a unique phenomenon, which are dialectically relationed and, presently, are in contradiction; this scheme configures a revolutionary situation affecting the Latín American man (alienated by herodism, exploitation and marginality) and, therefore, involves both the society and the culture"
Example
More examples"In 1702 he wrote in opposition to prevalent intolerance a phamphlet entitled "The shortest way with Dissenters," in which he counselled the violent and total extinction of all who differed with the state-sanctioned creed. He was, of course, out-Heroding Herod to mock Herodism : but his imitation was too good and he was clapped into Newgate and condemned to the pillory."
Etymology
From Herod the Great, the biblical king who is said to have ordered the execution of all male infants under the age of two in the town of Bethlehem and the surrounding region, as he saw Jesus as a threat to his rule and who was allowed to rule by accepting Roman control and dominance.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.