hellacious
adjective
hel·la·cious
ˌhe-ˈlā-shəs 
1
: exceptionally powerful or violent
2
: remarkably good
3
: extremely difficult
4
: extraordinarily large
hellaciously
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of hellacious in a Sentence
Traffic is hellacious this time of day.
the hellacious heat was more than we could bear
Recent Examples on the Web
This was not the hellacious veggieburger of ancient times.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023
After a first season that included contestants being blindfolded while driving in a crash course, repelling down buildings, and swimming hundreds of yards to solve puzzles, the new season is already off to a hellacious start.
—Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 17 Aug. 2023
The pair becomes an effective duo, navigating a wild car chase through Rome in a tiny Fiat and a hellacious train trip on the Orient Express.
—USA TODAY, 10 July 2023
Bad Bunny defeated his former friend-turned-foe Damian Priest in a hellacious San Juan Street Fight at WWE’s premium live event Backlash on Saturday night (May 6).
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 7 May 2023
The 49ers quarterback lowered his shoulder — his throwing shoulder — at the end of a fourth-quarter scramble, and his decision resulted in a hellacious collision with Rams cornerback Troy Hill.
—Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 19 Oct. 2020
The 14 remaining species went extinct after Chicxulub, but their demise also coincides with the most hellacious phase of the Deccan eruptions (and another massive release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere).
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 5 July 2016
The hellacious showdown will have an exciting backstory: Priest and Bunny’s relationship dates back to their time on the island, when the WWE superstar’s aunt — a teacher — taught the singer’s brother.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 4 May 2023
The condition can make for a hellacious existence, even though during our recent two-hour phone conversation Hawkins was warm, generous and jovial.
—Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 11 Aug. 2021
See More
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023
After a first season that included contestants being blindfolded while driving in a crash course, repelling down buildings, and swimming hundreds of yards to solve puzzles, the new season is already off to a hellacious start.
—Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 17 Aug. 2023
The pair becomes an effective duo, navigating a wild car chase through Rome in a tiny Fiat and a hellacious train trip on the Orient Express.
—USA TODAY, 10 July 2023
Bad Bunny defeated his former friend-turned-foe Damian Priest in a hellacious San Juan Street Fight at WWE’s premium live event Backlash on Saturday night (May 6).
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 7 May 2023
The 49ers quarterback lowered his shoulder — his throwing shoulder — at the end of a fourth-quarter scramble, and his decision resulted in a hellacious collision with Rams cornerback Troy Hill.
—Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 19 Oct. 2020
The 14 remaining species went extinct after Chicxulub, but their demise also coincides with the most hellacious phase of the Deccan eruptions (and another massive release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere).
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 5 July 2016
The hellacious showdown will have an exciting backstory: Priest and Bunny’s relationship dates back to their time on the island, when the WWE superstar’s aunt — a teacher — taught the singer’s brother.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 4 May 2023
The condition can make for a hellacious existence, even though during our recent two-hour phone conversation Hawkins was warm, generous and jovial.
—Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 11 Aug. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hellacious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near hellacious
Cite this Entry
“Hellacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hellacious. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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