1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the hellacious heat was more than we could bear
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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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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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Gas and dust fall into a rotating disk around the black hole, and as the debris spirals more rapidly, it becomes superheated, releasing intense radiation.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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True Ipomea batatas has bright orange flesh (although modern varieties have much more intense colors than older forms), occasionally white and rarely purple.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Jens generally chooses his words carefully, and is, what’s more, particularly reticent just after finishing a long and difficult winter delivery trip; what’s a person supposed to do with words in a blizzard anyway, up on a stormy heath and all directions lost?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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In his first start in the wake of Beau Pribula’s significant injury, Zollers walked into a difficult situation, and his stat line reflected it.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Between 2022 and 2023, a team from Arkeologerna conducted an intensive investigation in the southernmost area of the former city.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
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The orbiters are expected to linger in a holding pattern before heading for Mars next year when the red planet is better aligned for a less fuel-intensive journey.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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What’s been the most challenging period for you?—
Kevin Cassidy,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
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Getting back in shape this year proved to be more challenging than expected.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In intra-party diplo-speak, that was about as fierce a burn as can come from the party’s central committee.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Nov. 2025
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The city’s fierce weather pattern is fueled by the same Arctic air mass expected to sweep through the eastern two-thirds of the US this week.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This loss had to be especially tough for the Jayhawks, considering a controversial holding call on KU changed the momentum of the game.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
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However, their record at the Etihad makes for tough reading.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Just a big ferocious ball of meat, claws, and teeth.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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Though the storm did not make a direct hit on Haiti, its ferocious rains caused rivers to flood and jump their banks.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors.—
Harlan Vaughn,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Encinitas Green Business Network provides a rigorous framework for local organizations to reduce their environmental footprint through actionable, practical, and high-impact improvements.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hellacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hellacious. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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