the hell
noun
informal + impolite
1
—used to make a statement or question more forceful
Let's get the hell out of here.
(chiefly US) They moved way the hell up north.
What the hell is going on?
2
—used to say in an angry and forceful way that one will not do something, does not agree, etc.
"It's your fault!" "The hell it is!"
Examples of the hell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The air was buzzing with rumors of a Drake appearance, and questions about what the hell was taking so long while little clouds of weed smoke popped up like NYC chimneys in the wintertime.
—
Angel Diaz, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024
The lonely image of Future serving rocks in an open-carry state reminds us of the hell that America puts young Black people through.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024
But few knew of the hell Nicole endured behind closed doors at the hands of her husband.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
If all that counts is inward essence, what the hell were those teams of makeup artists, coiffeurs, and cinematographers employed by the major studios, in the golden age, doing all day?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Now your vault was about to kick you out into the wasteland on an important mission, and your character—at the start of the adventure, a delicate rookie with few skills—would have to figure out what the hell was going on in what was left of the planet.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Supermarket Sweep host Leslie Jones knows grocery stores and 'what the hell is expensive'
22 of 25
What's My Line?
—Tanner Stransky, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
For those who had survived the hell of trench warfare, cynicism, satire and bile became tools providing a path back to life.
—Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Who knows what the hell this guy might turn into for the Jays.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
Angel Diaz, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024
The lonely image of Future serving rocks in an open-carry state reminds us of the hell that America puts young Black people through.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024
But few knew of the hell Nicole endured behind closed doors at the hands of her husband.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
If all that counts is inward essence, what the hell were those teams of makeup artists, coiffeurs, and cinematographers employed by the major studios, in the golden age, doing all day?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Now your vault was about to kick you out into the wasteland on an important mission, and your character—at the start of the adventure, a delicate rookie with few skills—would have to figure out what the hell was going on in what was left of the planet.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Supermarket Sweep host Leslie Jones knows grocery stores and 'what the hell is expensive'
22 of 25
What's My Line?
—Tanner Stransky, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024
For those who had survived the hell of trench warfare, cynicism, satire and bile became tools providing a path back to life.
—Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Who knows what the hell this guy might turn into for the Jays.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the hell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the hell
Cite this Entry
“The hell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20hell. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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