as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
the chaste heroines and nefarious villains of old-time melodramas
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Recent Examples of nefarious
As the doppelganger charms the internet and devises a nefarious plot to replace mankind with brainrot, Shiori must partner with other online outcasts to stop her digital counterpart and reclaim her life in the real world.
—
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
What will be the nefarious next move from the cunning Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung) and the casually cruel Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao)?
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
Naturally, more nefarious forces are at play that threaten his big break.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
The brief also argues that the government cast ordinary actions that a judge takes as nefarious criminal conduct and that the case should not have been charged as a felony.
—John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nefarious
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
What will be the nefarious next move from the cunning Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung) and the casually cruel Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao)?
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
Naturally, more nefarious forces are at play that threaten his big break.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
The brief also argues that the government cast ordinary actions that a judge takes as nefarious criminal conduct and that the case should not have been charged as a felony.
—John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nefarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nefarious
Adjective
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Newcomers to the popular franchise are Greta Lee as the evil Lilypad game tablet and Conan O'Brien playing a hilarious potty training toy called Smarty Pants.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Some cities in China have banned fireworks out of concerns over safety and air pollution, but the measures are controversial as firecrackers, traditionally used to scare off evil spirits, remain central to Lunar New Year celebrations.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These new regulations impose the world’s fastest removal deadline, requiring platforms to take down unlawful synthetic media within three hours of notification.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
-
On Wednesday, a coalition of health and environmental groups sued the EPA over the revocation, calling it unlawful and harmful.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Cooperation feels not only impossible, but immoral.—
Joe Palaggi,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
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This also underlines how the admirably, anti-tank Heat are being asked to save civilization, protect The Republic, maintain a sense of morality in an immoral world and protect our children’s tomorrow from an accelerated descent into nihilism.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And what good mischief doesn't begin with a little sinful bite?—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
His father, who believes Sammie's music to be sinful, orders him to drop the guitar, but Sammie can't do it.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There are fun villains; Reggie’s nemesis is a sneakily vicious NFL alum (Craig Robinson) with the splendid name Jerry Basmati.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
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Anderson received the Sydney Schanberg Prize for his reporting on decades of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where regional and global actors have fuelled one of the world’s most vicious entrenched conflicts.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Just last week the president tweeted a vile and disgusting image of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and refuses to apologize.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
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Before, during, and after the founding of the United States, our cities, States, and country have continuously relied upon capital punishment as the ultimate deterrent and only proper punishment for the vilest crimes.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
At the center of the space will be a central bar wrapped in wood paneling and leather accents, topped with dark stone, according to the release.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee
February 17,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
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The shoes accompanied a silky black midi skirt, a simple gray sweater, a thick dark turquoise belt and a long furry gray coat worn off her shoulders.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Investigators are buried in leads The influx of tips generated in the case – further fueled by the release this week of footage captured by Guthrie’s doorbell camera – is both good and bad for law enforcement.—
Elizabeth Hartfield,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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But the lack of bigger tax cuts does not inherently make the grocery tax repeal bad.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nefarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nefarious. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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