Hades

noun

Ha·​des ˈhā-(ˌ)dēz 

1

: the Greek god of the underworld

2

: the underground abode of the dead in Greek mythology

3

: sheol

4

often hades : hell sense 1a

Did you know?

In Greek mythology, Hades is both the land of the dead and the god who rules there. Hades the god (who the Greeks also called Pluto) is the brother of Zeus and Poseidon, who rule the skies and the seas. The realm called Hades, where he rules with his wife Persephone, is the region under the earth, full of mineral wealth and fertility and home to dead souls. Hades today is sometimes used as a polite term for Hell ("It's hotter than Hades in here!").

Examples of Hades in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Persephone, goddess of spring and the fields, became the spouse of Hades, who ruled the underworld. — Literary Hub, 18 May 2026

Michael Lorenzen and Coors Field look like a match made in Hades. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 16 May 2026

In Absolute Wonder Woman, drawn by Hayden, who is also part of this artistic new wave, Diana Prince is raised in Hades by the sorceress Circe to be a witch, not on Paradise Island by caring Amazonians, and flies on a skeleton horse. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026

The fictional Night Raven College serves as a training ground for aspiring sorcerers, with dormitories themed around villainous icons like the Queen of Hearts, Scar, Ursula, Jafar, the Evil Queen, Hades and Maleficent. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek Aidēs, Āidēs, Haidēs

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for Hades

• clades
• ladies

Kids Definition

hades

noun

ha·​des

ˈhād-(ˌ)ēz

: hell sense 1

Etymology

Greek Haidēs, god of the underworld, abode of the dead in Greek mythology