1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the hellacious heat was more than we could bear
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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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Recent Examples of hellacious
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
The canine snarl and hellacious production of Whole Lotta Red has dissipated for something sleeker, more vaporous.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2025
Scott’s hellacious run in hip-hop can be credited to his 100-plus Billboard Hot 100 entries and two blockbuster releases, 2018’s Astroworld and 2023’s Utopia, which both secured the top spot on the Billboard 200.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for hellacious
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
The canine snarl and hellacious production of Whole Lotta Red has dissipated for something sleeker, more vaporous.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2025
Scott’s hellacious run in hip-hop can be credited to his 100-plus Billboard Hot 100 entries and two blockbuster releases, 2018’s Astroworld and 2023’s Utopia, which both secured the top spot on the Billboard 200.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for hellacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hellacious
Adjective
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Pyongyang has continued to exercise significant control over the population and severely restrict the rights and freedoms of its population, and that has only gotten more intense over the last decade.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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This question — which strikes at the heart of a perennial issue in American politics, frequently reignited by recurring mass shootings — sparked an intense partisan divide.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ncell, Nepal’s second-largest telecommunications service provider, noted that shutting down all platforms at once was, in any case, technically difficult and warned that the move would severely impact business.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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Last summer, after years of hip problems and some difficult surgeries to address them, Jill had an operation that went poorly.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Advertisement The flurry of updates came three days after Robinson was arrested following an intensive hunt for Kirk's killer.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
14 Sep. 2025
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Doing this requires massive system level integration and is resource intensive.—
Thomas Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To be sure, the last few years have been more challenging, with Gucci rapidly losing momentum — and Kering’s debt load swelling after an acquisition spree that included Creed, Maui Jim, a 30 percent stake in Valentino, and large chunks of prime real estate.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
9 Sep. 2025
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Ultimately, gig engineering is becoming an attractive but challenging path.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Despite fierce opposition to certain kids books by conservative activists, Maricopa County, which serves 144,000 library cardholders, received only 12 formal letters asking for reevaluation of library books and DVDs since 2021.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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In August, the discontent grew when a leak showed that the White House's forthcoming MAHA strategy report would sidestep tougher limits on pesticides and other agrochemicals, bowing to fierce industry pressure.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The backcourt duo of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, also known as the StudBudz, are shifty, tough shot-making guards who can get hot in a hurry.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
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And that’s tough on those guys.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Just like that, Denver’s ferocious defensive front had turned a go-ahead scoring opportunity for the Titans into a punt.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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The conflict in Europe was mirrored by a ferocious debate between scientists and Spiritualists, each side fueled by the pain of their own private losses.—
Alice Vernon
September 8,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For the next six years, Kira endured a rigorous drug treatment regime and was frequently in and out of hospitals.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
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During a break in the rigorous shooting schedule for the limited series, which also stars Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden, Partridge was able to squeeze in the trip with old college friends.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hellacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hellacious. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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