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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.
As Demogorgons are wreaking havoc on the MAC-Z, and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is preoccupied in the Upside Down, the rest of the Hawkins crew is left to figure this hellish situation one out on their own. Katie Campione, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025 This opening is riveting, but that’s just the beginning of this exciting novel, which follows as Smith is forced to navigate a hellish legal system in the unrealistic hope of clearing his name, all while reckoning with the public response to the mysterious death of his roommate and best friend. Ana Osorno, Them., 21 Nov. 2025 The latter in particular has a gorgeous overground section matched with a hellish underworld stretch, the blending of which make for some of Nintendo’s finest graphical work, with a masterpiece of a soundtrack to boot. Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2025 The overall hellish conditions have prompted as many asfive million Venezuelans to flee their homes in recent years, often heading toward neighboring countries on foot, experts say. Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 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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