chthonic

adjective

variants also chthonian
Definition of chthonicnext
as in infernal

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of chthonic But that’s what endears him to his fans, who appreciate the chthonic split between the aerial skate aesthete and the grieving empath. — Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026 Greek myths feature dozens of chthonic divinities and forces. — Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025 But Lloyd is less interested in the specifics of either work than in the chthonic rage underneath. — Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024 And no one suffers quite like the True Believer; surrendering to optimism is an invitation for chthonic forces to start doling out a whole lot of emotional rump puntings. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chthonic
  1. infernal
  2. hellish
  3. sulfurous
  4. earthly
  5. plutonian
Adjective
  • Four years later in Italy, the waterworks went again, as those infernal penalty kicks tripped us up against West Germany in the semifinal.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
  • Linda Cardellini offers up a killer breakdown to the roaring chorus of the lawn guy’s infernal leaf blower.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of infernal
Adjective
  • Israel is not solely responsible for the persistence of hellish conditions in Gaza.
    — KHALED ELGINDY, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Their gathering at a secluded house quickly turns into a hellish reunion as the family members turn into Deadites.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of hellish
Adjective
  • Allegations of antisemitism touch a particular nerve at the National Rally because Le Pen has worked for years to distance herself from her father’s sulfurous legacy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Sweet onions contain fewer sulfurous compounds than pungent onions.
    — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of sulfurous
Adjective
  • Outside stands a statue of an infirm John Paul II leaning on his papal staff — a reminder of the pontiffs who have been treated here, and of their earthly frailty.
    — Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The community advocated a spiritual life and represented their idea of an earthly paradise.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of earthly
Adjective
  • Passionate and peculiar, this cat mirrors your Plutonian energy perfectly.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
  • As a fellow Scorpio, Perry channeled her Plutonian side with a bold and villainous take on the formidable sea witch.
    — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Definition of plutonian

Browse Nearby Words

chronometers
chthonic
chubbiness
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Cite this Entry

“Chthonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chthonic. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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