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hellish

adjective

Definition of hellishnext
as in horrible
of, resembling, or befitting hell We've been having hellish weather lately. The battlefield was a hellish scene of death and destruction.

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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 hellish But as the episode closes out on another flash-forward to Joe’s captivity, we’re reminded that the plan of escape from this hellish timeline only throws her deeper into its clutches. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2026 Fortunately, Des Moines resident Sydney Marshall shared some non-hellish tips before the tournament began. — Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register, 15 Aug. 2026 The comedy of errors that follows as Ina attempts to solve the nation’s problems, from traffic congestion to energy crisis, doubles as a critique of the despotic regime and the tumult of living in such hellish times. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026 Even with the hellish conditions bearing down around them, the engineers were able to find moments of levity. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hellish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hellish
  1. horrible
  2. awful
  3. dreadful
  4. hideous
  5. sickening
Adjective
  • Much has been written about the power of artificial intelligence to improve life in myriad ways, but also about its truly horrible effects—now and going forward—if it isn’t managed properly.
    — Nadine Hack, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But the horrible scenes that unfolded before him were incomparable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • To Morrison, as well as to the filmmakers, this awful backstory makes something cathartic of his accomplishment.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • So the fact that there was this whole section of gay actors who weren’t allowed to do that is awful.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • The dilettante witches wind up waking a beast more dreadful than mid-life ennui.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
  • What happens next at first feels like a dreadful narrative misstep, seemingly reinforcing the idea that cutting oneself off from others can save them from life’s travails.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of dreadful
Adjective
  • These flashbacks betray where writer-director-cinematographer-editor Tsukamoto’s filmmaking interests really lie, which is in the gruesome recreation of hideous acts of barbarism and cruelty.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • At this point in the operation, even formerly adorable homes begin to look hideous.
    — Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of hideous
Adjective
  • Carter’s sickening spree ultimately came to an end after he was arrested by Detective Pete Willis.
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Months later, with vaccination rates still dangerously low, measles broke out, sickening thousands.
    — Ali Swenson, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sickening

Browse Nearby Words

hellions
hellish
hellishness
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Cite this Entry

“Hellish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hellish. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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