nefarious

adjective

ne·far·i·ous ni-ˈfer-ē-əs

Synonyms of nefarious next

: flagrantly wicked or impious : evil

nefariously adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for nefarious

vicious, villainous, iniquitous, nefarious, corrupt, degenerate mean highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct.

vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

Examples of nefarious in a Sentence

Moreover, those starry-eyed states inclined to perceive international relations in moral terms frequently underestimate the nefarious machinations of their competitors on the world political stage. —

Richard Wolin, New Republic, 4 June 2001

… I always give the same response: Just because Frank posed for pictures with every leading capo, underboss and cement contractor of the day doesn't mean that he joined them in their nefarious underworld activities. Oh, occasionally he rode along on a hit or two, but that was just one of those social obligations … —

Lewis Grossberger, Time, 21 Dec. 1998

Three-tenths of a mile uphill from our mailbox on the road, that bend is so nefarious that neophytes often skidded into a snowbank or wound up fender-deep in mud there. —

Maxine Kumin, In Deep, 1987

a nefarious scheme to cheat people out of their money the chaste heroines and nefarious villains of old-time melodramas

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Their scenes largely took place in boardrooms in New York City, where Katie was meeting rich colleagues of her deceased husband in order to carry out a nefarious plan. —

Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024 State of play: No nefarious activity is involved in the drones drones reported over several northeastern states, federal officials have repeatedly said. —

April Rubin, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024 Plus, a good deal of them—like turmeric, clove, nutmeg, red pepper, and ginger, to name a few—also contain potent antioxidant compounds, which may help negate the inflammatory power of those nefarious free radicals. —

Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 Dec. 2024 The sightings have stirred speculation, amplified by celebrities, commentators, and prominent public officials, that this is nefarious, experimental technology. —

Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nefarious