netherworld

noun

neth·​er·​world ˈne-t͟hər-ˌwərld How to pronounce netherworld (audio)
Synonyms of netherworldnext
1
: the world of the dead
2
: underworld sense 4
… the netherworld of deceit … and espionage …R. M. Nixon
3
: no-man's-land sense 2
lost in a bureaucratic netherworld

Synonyms of netherworld

Examples of netherworld in a Sentence

the shadowy netherworld of all-night raves
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.
Now, in an age of instant communications, their Cold War counterparts could nonetheless disappear into a covert netherworld, loosening Washington’s controls and freeing them to plot coups, mobilize armies, and install governments. Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026 Girand’s journey into this netherworld was sparked by neighborhood chaos and an attempt to understand what was happening. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026 Nicole finds herself in an all too familiar place for those who have experienced the early phase of young-onset neurological disease, a netherworld between acceptance and denial. Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025 The other two-thirds are on a scale of anxiously hopeful to beyond desperate -- an amorphous netherworld of doubt that, yes, includes the Miami Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa, or should. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for netherworld

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of netherworld was in 1632

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Netherworld.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/netherworld. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

netherworld

noun
neth·​er·​world ˈneth-ər-ˌwərld How to pronounce netherworld (audio)
: the world of the dead
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster