hellacious

adjective

ˌhe-ˈlā-shəs How to pronounce hellacious (audio)
Definition of hellaciousnext
1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect the hellacious heat was more than we could bear

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort the pioneers survived a particularly hellacious river crossing with their covered wagon barely in one piece

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hellacious His hellacious brand of defense is a nightmare for opposing benches in particular. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The skiers were in a valley below Perry Peak, but the two survivors have described battling through hellacious conditions in the hour before the avalanche. — Andrew Graham april 2, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2026 But the tour was a hellacious time for Bachman. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026 Even against a hellacious Houston defense, the Patriots’ shortest path to victory is to ask Maye to carry them yet again. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hellacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hellacious
  1. intense
  2. difficult
  3. intensive
  4. challenging
  5. fierce
  6. tough
  7. ferocious
  8. rigorous
Adjective
  • His plan, scheduled for a vote at the Beach commission on Wednesday after two years of often-intense debate and revision, comes in the prosaic form of a technical zoning change.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Criticism from the political left was, predictably, swift and intense.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Strickland said even getting equipment on the road during construction can be difficult for farmers.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 July 2026
  • While following the money may be difficult, there are other signs of the growing role of organized crime in politics.
    — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Hope Lodge | Sutherland, Scotland Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen opened this lodge as part of his intensive, extensive investments into his adoptive home of Scotland, which he’s dubbed Wildland.
    — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 23 July 2026
  • But Kenneth Corey, who spent more than three decades at the New York City Police Department, says more intensive vetting, such as mandatory psychological evaluations, is becoming more common.
    — Meg Anderson, NPR, 23 July 2026
Definition of intensive
Adjective
  • In April, DeepSeek rolled out previews of its latest V4 model, challenging OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s Gemini.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
  • As a business owner, Maloney says, the most rewarding and most challenging aspect of the job is making all the decisions and solving every problem.
    — Claire Hall, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • This video shows firefighters battling fierce flames ripping through vegetation, propelled, in part, by strong gusts of wind.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
  • Liverpool were trailing 2-1 early in the second half when the midfielder chested the ball down just outside the box and unleashed a fierce strike past Melker Ellborg.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • There were tough conversations between Naylor and Cleveland’s coaches and front office.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Villegas, after a tough primary election battle against Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, has roughly $572,000.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Emergency crews are still scrambling to contain ferocious blazes in Spain and France, where authorities have warned wildfires could burn for several months before they are fully extinguished.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • One is among the most ferocious forces in the sport, a bona fide ace who is must-see TV.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • Then again, allowing American companies to sell BPC-157 for human use could create the impression that the peptide, which hasn’t passed through the rigorous process the FDA uses to approve new drugs, nonetheless has the agency’s blessing.
    — Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • Hydrogen requires specialized storage systems, dedicated airport infrastructure, and rigorous safety standards.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
Definition of rigorous

Browse Nearby Words

hell
hellacious
hell-bent
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Cite this Entry

“Hellacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hellacious. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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