Synonyms of hell

hell

noun

ˈhel 

1

as in inferno

the place of punishment for the wicked after death

condemned to hell for their sins

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inferno
• abyss
• perdition
• Pandemonium
• blazes
• Gehenna
• pit
• underworld
• purgatory
• Tophet
• netherworld
• hades
• hellfire
• Tartarus
• Sheol
• shades
• fire and brimstone

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• heaven
• sky
• paradise
• bliss
• Zion
• New Jerusalem
• Elysium
• kingdom come
• empyrean
• glory
• nirvana
• promised land
• Valhalla
• elysian fields
• happy hunting ground

2

as in nightmare

a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness

picking cotton under the hot summer sun was hell

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nightmare
• agony
• misery
• torture
• torment
• horror
• curse
• murder
• ordeal
• Gehenna
• tragedy
• misfortune
• cross
• tribulation
• calamity
• trial
• affliction
• drag
• thorn
• calvary
• gall
• downer
• bummer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• heaven
• pleasure
• joy
• fun
• paradise
• entertainment
• recreation
• delight
• diversion
• riot
• picnic
• lark

3

as in havoc

a state in which everything is out of order

all hell broke loose when the jury's verdict was announced

Synonyms & Similar Words

• havoc
• mess
• chaos
• confusion
• jumble
• heck
• disorder
• tangle
• disarray
• riot
• disorganization
• snake pit
• shambles
• messiness
• muss
• disarrangement
• free-for-all
• tumble
• disorderliness
• clutter
• muddle
• maze
• dishevelment
• welter
• anarchy
• labyrinth
• chance-medley
• misorder
• mare's nest
• disorderedness
• snarl
• misrule
• storm
• lawlessness
• knot
• web
• maelstrom
• shuffle
• litter
• mishmash
• morass
• hodgepodge
• bollix
• medley
• motley
• miscellany

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• order
• system
• plan
• method
• orderliness
• pattern

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hell

The series followed the Brannock family who moved into what was supposed to be their suburban dream home, and quickly became a living hell. — Peter White, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

And look at the Johnson-less segments, like the overlong Weekend Update (more on that later) — or especially the stale-as-hell midterm ads political cold open, another excuse to run through all the usual impressions. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2026

And in each case, their tradwife-dom went straight to hell in a handbasket. — Christina Wyman, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

In either case, there’s a period of normalcy, followed by red flags and denial after which all hell clearly breaks loose. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing hell

• raise hell