the hell

noun

informal + impolite
1
used to make a statement or question more forceful
Let's get the hell out of here.
(chiefly US) They moved way the hell up north.
What the hell is going on?
2
used to say in an angry and forceful way that one will not do something, does not agree, etc.
"It's your fault!" "The hell it is!"

Examples of the hell in a Sentence

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.
After yesterday’s lead story in TAFC, here’s Matt Woosnam right on cue to explain what the hell went down at Crystal Palace in the transfer window. Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 My advice is to stay the hell out of the press. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026 My advice is to stay the hell out of the press. Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026 All this within a year unless KC wakes the hell up. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the hell

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The hell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20hell. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

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