hellacious

adjective

hel·​la·​cious ˌhe-ˈlā-shəs How to pronounce hellacious (audio)
Synonyms of hellaciousnext
1
: exceptionally powerful or violent
hellacious winds
2
: remarkably good
has a hellacious curve ball
3
: extremely difficult
a hellacious climb
4
: extraordinarily large
a hellacious traffic jam
hellaciously adverb

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
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.
But the tour was a hellacious time for Bachman. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026 Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid dished out three assists and a hellacious hit on Czechia forward Lukas Sedlec on his first shift early in the first period that set the tone for a fast paced, hard hitting and unselfish display of often breathtaking hockey. Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 13 Feb. 2026 Even against a hellacious Houston defense, the Patriots’ shortest path to victory is to ask Maye to carry them yet again. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026 Playing a school driver who has to get a bunch of kids to safety during a hellacious, out-of-control California fire, McConaughey learned how to drive a bus, grinding gears and everything. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hellacious

Word History

Etymology

hell + -acious (as in audacious)

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hellacious was in 1929

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hellacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hellacious. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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