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What Is the Difference Between vicious, villainous, and nefarious?
Nefarious comes from the Latin adjective nefarius and the Latin noun nefas, which means "crime." Nefas is a combination of ne- ("not") and fas, meaning "right" or "divine law."
Examples of nefarious in a Sentence
Moreover, those starry-eyed states inclined to perceive international relations in moral terms frequently underestimate the nefarious machinations of their competitors on the world political stage.
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Richard Wolin, New Republic, 4 June 2001
… I always give the same response: Just because Frank posed for pictures with every leading capo, underboss and cement contractor of the day doesn't mean that he joined them in their nefarious underworld activities. Oh, occasionally he rode along on a hit or two, but that was just one of those social obligations …
—Lewis Grossberger, Time, 21 Dec. 1998
Three-tenths of a mile uphill from our mailbox on the road, that bend is so nefarious that neophytes often skidded into a snowbank or wound up fender-deep in mud there.
—Maxine Kumin, In Deep, 1987
a nefarious scheme to cheat people out of their money
the chaste heroines and nefarious villains of old-time melodramas
Richard Wolin, New Republic, 4 June 2001
… I always give the same response: Just because Frank posed for pictures with every leading capo, underboss and cement contractor of the day doesn't mean that he joined them in their nefarious underworld activities. Oh, occasionally he rode along on a hit or two, but that was just one of those social obligations …
—Lewis Grossberger, Time, 21 Dec. 1998
Three-tenths of a mile uphill from our mailbox on the road, that bend is so nefarious that neophytes often skidded into a snowbank or wound up fender-deep in mud there.
—Maxine Kumin, In Deep, 1987
a nefarious scheme to cheat people out of their money
the chaste heroines and nefarious villains of old-time melodramas
Recent Examples on the Web
In all, the facts should dash any worries of nefarious doctors inflating children with vast volumes of noxious concoctions.
—ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
The town itself is also undergoing a massive urban re-development initiative led by Quasartico — which definitely reeks of gentrification and will probably be nefarious in the long run.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
No telling yet whether that’s a sign of good will or an indication of something nefarious at play.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Corrupt superheroes, nefarious loan sharks, ghostly visitors and hilarious adventures in a galaxy far, far away.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nefarious
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ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
The town itself is also undergoing a massive urban re-development initiative led by Quasartico — which definitely reeks of gentrification and will probably be nefarious in the long run.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
No telling yet whether that’s a sign of good will or an indication of something nefarious at play.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Corrupt superheroes, nefarious loan sharks, ghostly visitors and hilarious adventures in a galaxy far, far away.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nefarious
Cite this Entry
“Nefarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nefarious. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nefarious
adjective
ne·far·i·ous
ni-ˈfar-ē-əs 
-ˈfer-
: very wicked : evil
nefariously
adverb
nefariousness
noun
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