Definition of netherworldnext
as in underworld
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream the shadowy netherworld of all-night raves

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 netherworld Nicole finds herself in an all too familiar place for those who have experienced the early phase of young-onset neurological disease, a netherworld between acceptance and denial. Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025 The other two-thirds are on a scale of anxiously hopeful to beyond desperate -- an amorphous netherworld of doubt that, yes, includes the Miami Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa, or should. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025 The same netherworld where Julien enjoyed torturing Cortland during his statue days. Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2025 All were jarring openings that guided filmgoers into the strange netherworlds tucked away in otherwise normal big cities and small towns. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for netherworld
Recent Examples of Synonyms for netherworld
underworld
Noun
  • Mafia romances are especially popular, delving into the gritty underworld of organized crime.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 July 2026
  • Robert, the son of a more-like-a-brother cousin of Carney’s, disappears, and Carney sets out to find him, navigating the dual underworlds of Harlem crime and Queens politics.
    David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Netherworld.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/netherworld. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster