hellish

adjective

hell·​ish ˈhe-lish How to pronounce hellish (audio)
: of, resembling, or befitting hell
broadly : terrible
hellishly adverb
hellishness noun

Examples of hellish in a Sentence

We've been having hellish weather lately. The battlefield was a hellish scene of death and destruction.
Recent Examples on the Web Come for the downward spiral of hellish despair, stay for macabre goat Black Phillip and the ominous climax. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024 However, these hellish events may have also delivered surprising benefits. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024 Over a few hellish days and nights, the boy is hurled from one misfortune to the next, none ghastlier than an encounter with two leering Fagins (Stephen Graham and Kathy Burke), who are not just thugs but profiteers. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024 While its appearance is hellish, its size — at two to four inches — is less than intimidating. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hellish 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hellish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hellish was circa 1530

Dictionary Entries Near hellish

Cite this Entry

“Hellish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hellish. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hellish

adjective
hell·​ish ˈhel-ish How to pronounce hellish (audio)
: of, resembling, or suitable to hell : infernal
hellishly adverb
hellishness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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