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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hellacious
The film bluntly communicates the danger of football on the body and brain, with X-ray-vision scenes that show players’ skeletons bearing the impact of hellacious hits.
—
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
Even in the hellacious conditions of Greater Los Angeles, the suspension absorbs severe potholes, broken surfaces and expansion joints with little more than the sound of a muffled timpani strike.
—Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
The other nailed two runners on the bases with some of the most hellacious throws anyone had ever seen.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Just when the series appeared to begin tilting toward Indiana deep into Game 4, with a 3-1 Pacers lead a real possibility, Lu Dort's hellacious defense helped force Indiana into tough shots and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring rescued Oklahoma City.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hellacious
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
Even in the hellacious conditions of Greater Los Angeles, the suspension absorbs severe potholes, broken surfaces and expansion joints with little more than the sound of a muffled timpani strike.
—Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
The other nailed two runners on the bases with some of the most hellacious throws anyone had ever seen.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Just when the series appeared to begin tilting toward Indiana deep into Game 4, with a 3-1 Pacers lead a real possibility, Lu Dort's hellacious defense helped force Indiana into tough shots and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring rescued Oklahoma City.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hellacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hellacious
Adjective
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During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Safdie perceptively locates the protagonist’s troubling inner contradictions—the atavistic fury that drives him to compete and the intense self-control that competition demands—but dramatizes such outer crises as opioid addiction and conflict with his girlfriend (Emily Blunt) only schematically.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For once, the bulk of the anger was directed not at Fosun — the investment group and majority shareholder – and the Molineux hierarchy who have conspired to deal Pereira a difficult hand, but at the head coach himself and his players.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Romancelandia’s social world, harnessed by its business-minded authors, may make its success exceedingly difficult to replicate.—
Rebecca Ackermann,
The Atlantic,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Over the next three days, Stafford and Hanton will lead you through an intensive, interactive bushcraft school.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
5 Oct. 2025
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In India, the government has begun pushing to decarbonize the iron and steel sector, one of the world’s most emissions-intensive industries, driven as much by resource and pollution pressures as by diplomacy.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The big story Immigration anxieties and a challenging job market have sparked an online backlash over China's latest attempt at attracting global talent — a new visa program announced in August.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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His expertise could greatly benefit Ott, ahead of what is destined to be a challenging year in Phoenix.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The bond between the two men was at the center of a fierce political conflict that spread in Washington, San Salvador and Miami.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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And Kailey Agpaoa is goofy and funny as Doctor Sister, a self-sacrificing but fierce young woman who has given up her dreams to care of her aging parents while her older sister has a husband and medical career.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Lammens was perhaps fortunate to escape sanction then (Stuart Atwell booked the forward for diving), but this was a valuable occasion ahead of tougher tests, beginning at Anfield.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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There will be some tough picking in there, but typically the predicting business gets a little easier in region play.—
Tyler Palmateer,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In a competition bear-ly more ferocious, 12 chunky brown bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve have been battling it out in one of the most cutthroat places on the planet – the internet.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
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The numbers may not leap off the page, but one of Sunday’s most exciting clashes was the 60-minute chess match between the Detroit Lions’ run game and the Cleveland Browns’ ferocious defensive front.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The coins will undergo a rigorous conservation process before being given to local museums for public display, according to the company.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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During a recent appearance on Vulture’s Good One podcast, the standup recalled prepping for the rigorous audition process for a year while doing improv and working day jobs in Chicago.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hellacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hellacious. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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