Did you know?
What Is the Difference Between vicious, villainous, and nefarious?
Nefarious comes from the Latin adjective nefarius and the Latin noun nefas, which means "crime." Nefas is a combination of ne- ("not") and fas, meaning "right" or "divine law."
Examples of nefarious in a Sentence
Moreover, those starry-eyed states inclined to perceive international relations in moral terms frequently underestimate the nefarious machinations of their competitors on the world political stage.
—
Richard Wolin, New Republic, 4 June 2001
… I always give the same response: Just because Frank posed for pictures with every leading capo, underboss and cement contractor of the day doesn't mean that he joined them in their nefarious underworld activities. Oh, occasionally he rode along on a hit or two, but that was just one of those social obligations …
—Lewis Grossberger, Time, 21 Dec. 1998
Three-tenths of a mile uphill from our mailbox on the road, that bend is so nefarious that neophytes often skidded into a snowbank or wound up fender-deep in mud there.
—Maxine Kumin, In Deep, 1987
a nefarious scheme to cheat people out of their money
the chaste heroines and nefarious villains of old-time melodramas
Richard Wolin, New Republic, 4 June 2001
… I always give the same response: Just because Frank posed for pictures with every leading capo, underboss and cement contractor of the day doesn't mean that he joined them in their nefarious underworld activities. Oh, occasionally he rode along on a hit or two, but that was just one of those social obligations …
—Lewis Grossberger, Time, 21 Dec. 1998
Three-tenths of a mile uphill from our mailbox on the road, that bend is so nefarious that neophytes often skidded into a snowbank or wound up fender-deep in mud there.
—Maxine Kumin, In Deep, 1987
a nefarious scheme to cheat people out of their money
the chaste heroines and nefarious villains of old-time melodramas
Recent Examples on the Web
At least now, Wendell believes that Lee is onto something nefarious.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
Keaton also starred as a playwright/mother who becomes involved with a nefarious womanizer (Jack Nicholson) in Something’s Gotta Give (2003), good for her fourth best actress Oscar nomination.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
The mystery is less about who’s involved in the game afoot, as alert audiences piecing together context clues will be immediately aware of those nefarious parties upon their introductions, and is more about the puzzling lengths the filmmakers go to in planting contrived red herrings.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Advertisement While there is great concern over what environmental exposure is leading to the disorder, some of the explanations for why there are more people diagnosed with autism are less nefarious and more complex to unpack.
—Dr. Sunny Patel, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nefarious
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.
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
Keaton also starred as a playwright/mother who becomes involved with a nefarious womanizer (Jack Nicholson) in Something’s Gotta Give (2003), good for her fourth best actress Oscar nomination.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
The mystery is less about who’s involved in the game afoot, as alert audiences piecing together context clues will be immediately aware of those nefarious parties upon their introductions, and is more about the puzzling lengths the filmmakers go to in planting contrived red herrings.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Advertisement While there is great concern over what environmental exposure is leading to the disorder, some of the explanations for why there are more people diagnosed with autism are less nefarious and more complex to unpack.
—Dr. Sunny Patel, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nefarious
Cite this Entry
“Nefarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nefarious. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nefarious
adjective
ne·far·i·ous
ni-ˈfar-ē-əs 
-ˈfer-
: very wicked : evil
nefariously
adverb
nefariousness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share