hellish

adjective

hell·​ish ˈhe-lish How to pronounce hellish (audio)
Synonyms of hellishnext
: 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.
This season takes a hellish turn, as our caveman protagonist encounters undead and other paranormal enemies. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 But a chance encounter with the hellish Hessian at the moment of his beheading lights a fire in Sarah, giving her the power to overcome those who have wronged her and grow into a fearsome witch. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026 The wrinkle in this case is that many remember 2016 both as a hellish tragedy and the last gasp of anything like normality. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2026 This is going to be a hellish legislative session — again — for many Florida lawmakers. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026 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 25 Jan. 2026.

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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