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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Recent Examples of hellish
The blood seeps up the edges of her white skirts — that’s going to be hellish to try to get out.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Finding the beauty in that hellish croak — something that Josh Groban was able to do in the last Broadway revival — can prove exceptionally difficult.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
This season takes a hellish turn, as our caveman protagonist encounters undead and other paranormal enemies.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But a chance encounter with the hellish Hessian at the moment of his beheading lights a fire in Sarah, giving her the power to overcome those who have wronged her and grow into a fearsome witch.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hellish
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Finding the beauty in that hellish croak — something that Josh Groban was able to do in the last Broadway revival — can prove exceptionally difficult.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
This season takes a hellish turn, as our caveman protagonist encounters undead and other paranormal enemies.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But a chance encounter with the hellish Hessian at the moment of his beheading lights a fire in Sarah, giving her the power to overcome those who have wronged her and grow into a fearsome witch.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hellish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hellish
Adjective
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Arsenal, like Chelsea and City, have that horrible Wednesday-Saturday-Tuesday schedule to contend with.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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At this point, however, this news is neither insignificant nor horrible.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In the 1970s-1980s, all the agricultural talk in the Mississippi Delta was whether the boll weevil would be terrible or just awful this coming fall.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
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After a week of awful basketball, Minnesota led the NBA’s reigning champions – and favorites to repeat – by nine in the third quarter Sunday in Oklahoma City.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Even now, this is the derby’s beautiful, dreadful power.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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It’s been difficult for the Mavericks to win this season because of their injury woes and dreadful offense, largely the result of personnel.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Suddenly the whole thing seemed like a hideous dream.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
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One of most hideous images in American poetry, and yet one of the most memorable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Every repeat viewing of Abraham's performance reveals some new moment of humiliation — some fresh sickening glimmer of anguish that feels all too familiar.—
Devan Coggan,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, in the middle of the nation’s public transit capital, the same engineers want to expand the shadow of the Cross Bronx, using maintenance and safety standards as convenient covers while further dividing and sickening communities.—
Gustavo Rivera,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Given how well Queta has played this season, that at-the-rim scoring binge was impressive, but not shocking.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
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Pasquantino piloted his team to the biggest win in Italian baseball history inside the same ballpark with their shocking 8-6 victory over Team USA on Tuesday.—
Maria Torres,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hellish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hellish. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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