1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the hellacious heat was more than we could bear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the pioneers survived a particularly hellacious river crossing with their covered wagon barely in one piece
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 hellacious
Like all hillsides in southern Arizona, Copper World’s site is subject to sporadic but hellacious downpours during summer monsoon storms.
—
Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
Johnny Robles destroyed James Settle in just 20 seconds with a hellacious right cross.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
One night after a hellacious WarGames match, Iyo Sky was made to compete in a tag team match against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander up top and the hellacious Dillon Brooks (Houston Rockets) and Lu Dort (Thunder) on the wings.
—Sam Amick, The Athletic, 3 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hellacious
Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
Johnny Robles destroyed James Settle in just 20 seconds with a hellacious right cross.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
One night after a hellacious WarGames match, Iyo Sky was made to compete in a tag team match against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander up top and the hellacious Dillon Brooks (Houston Rockets) and Lu Dort (Thunder) on the wings.
—Sam Amick, The Athletic, 3 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hellacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hellacious
Adjective
-
This is a performance that entwines intense physicality with simmering determination, and a sense of humor.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
24 Feb. 2025
-
In the background of a Gaza ceasefire, Israel has steadily escalated an intense military operation in Palestinian cities in the West Bank, killing dozens and displacing tens of thousands of residents.—
Mick Krever,
CNN,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Stars of Durant’s stature can be notoriously difficult to pin down for interviews.—
Darnell Mayberry,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
-
But breaking with Russian gas has been difficult for Austria, which until recently was one of a handful of European countries to keep importing the fuel by pipeline.—
Stanley Reed,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In particular, teams deploying fiber-optic drones that send and receive signals via millimeters-thick wires rather than via radio—a method of control that helps the operators circumvent intensive Ukrainian radio jamming.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
-
When babies born at Carroll need intensive neonatal care, they are sent to Sinai.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This can be a challenging variable to track, given that there were insufficient details about the victim's mental health status in approximately 30% of incidents, Rad said.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Builders are facing a challenging market with mixed economic signals.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
After the goalless draw in one of soccer’s fiercest rivalries, the Portuguese manager was yet again outspoken in his press conference.—
Ben Church,
CNN,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The game between the fierce rivals was halted after 52 minutes due to fans throwing flares onto the pitch.—
Adam Crafton,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This all adds up to a tough investment outlook for any business looking at Ukraine’s mineral supply.—
Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
How to Bet Timberwolves vs. Lakers Following up a game like Tuesday's would be tough for the Wolves under any circumstances, but with Edwards battling a calf injury and DiVincenzo potentially sidelined, beating the Lakers in L.A. will be that much more difficult.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
It was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, which spread at ferocious speeds in high winds, eventually destroying more than 9,000 houses and buildings around Altadena, Calif.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Hudson’s father, Cecil, a logger, had a ferocious temper that scared even his own parents, who lived nearby.—
Eileen Finan,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Using rigorous logical frameworks and Turing-computable methods, BigGraph ensures trustworthy, adaptable outcomes that align with business needs.—
Jason Phillips,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
-
In 1975, the Russian mathematician Leonid Kantorovich shared the Nobel in economic science for refining a rigorous mathematical theory for the optimum allocation of resources.—
Siobhan Roberts,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hellacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hellacious. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share