hellish

adjective

hell·​ish ˈhe-lish How to pronounce hellish (audio)
: of, resembling, or befitting hell
broadly : terrible
hellishly adverb
hellishness noun

Examples of hellish in a Sentence

We've been having hellish weather lately. The battlefield was a hellish scene of death and destruction.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Universal Hollywood’s 2023 Holidayz in Hell maze took guests through hellish versions of celebrations like Thanksgiving, where the turkey got its revenge on a family as the savory smells of the traditional dinner and fixings filled the room. Julie Tremaine, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Say hello to Earth's hellish twin! Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2025 But Laura is cruel to Abby, and living with her is hellish. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025 In New Jersey, the hellish corners of New Jersey of converted warehouses and things like that. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hellish

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hellish was circa 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Hellish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hellish. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

hellish

adjective
hell·​ish ˈhel-ish How to pronounce hellish (audio)
: of, resembling, or suitable to hell : infernal
hellishly adverb
hellishness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hellish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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