HELLISH Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

hellish

adjective

Definition of hellish

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 Even with the hellish conditions bearing down around them, the engineers were able to find moments of levity. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 15 July 2026 In the new film, the Necronomicon — aka the Book of the Dead — creates a hellish nightmare for a widow, Alice (Souheila Yacoub), and her in-laws following the tragic death of Alice’s husband, Will (George Pullar). — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 It’s been a hellish week across South Florida. — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026 Others have been wounded, detained by military forces or stuck at sea in hellish conditions. — Joanne Stocker, CBS News, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hellish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hellish

Adjective

As horrible news stories go, few could compare with what happened on a Greek holiday island Monday.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ terrible, horrible, no good, very bad reelection campaign just got worse after Wednesday night’s debate in Sherman Oaks.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

But that team’s awful 2026 season meant any shock switch was a non-starter.

— Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Kavulich believes that at some point, the situation is going to turn so awful that either Cuban leaders will be forced to change, or the United States will intervene.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

The quarterback play will almost certainly be dreadful, and the brand-new offensive line will need time to catch up.

— The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Even the dreadful summer, when thousands of dead alewives washed ashore, couldn’t stop the O’Rourke kids from frolicking in Lake Michigan.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of dreadful

Adjective

Wildlife officials had found that many of these poisons worked their way through the food chain, sickening and killing owls, raptors, coyotes and mountain lions.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
More importantly, the China business, long a stalwart, started a sickening double-digit decline.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of sickening

Browse Nearby Words

hellions

hellish

hellishness

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“Hellish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hellish. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hellish

adjective

Example Sentences

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