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Hellish: meaning, definitions and examples

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hellish

 

[ˈhelɪʃ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

describing a situation

extremely unpleasant or difficult

Synonyms

dreadful, ghastly, horrendous, infernal, nightmarish.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hellish

Used to describe something extremely unpleasant or resembling hell.

  • The conditions in the prison were hellish
  • Her headache was hellish and wouldn't go away
nightmarish

Used to describe something very frightening or unpleasant, like a nightmare.

  • Her experience during the trip was nightmarish
  • The whole situation has been nightmarish from the start
infernal

Used to describe something related to hell; often used metaphorically for something very annoying or troublesome.

  • The infernal noise kept me awake all night
  • The project seemed like an infernal task
dreadful

Used to describe something very bad, unpleasant, or of poor quality.

  • The movie was dreadful and a waste of time
  • He made a dreadful mistake at work
horrendous

Used for emphasis when describing something extremely bad or shocking.

  • The traffic was horrendous this morning
  • They suffered horrendous injuries in the accident
ghastly

Used to describe something that causes great horror or is extremely unpleasant.

  • The crime scene was ghastly
  • She wore a ghastly outfit to the party

Examples of usage

  • The hellish conditions in the refugee camp made life unbearable.
  • She had to endure a hellish commute to work every day.
Context #2 | Adjective

describing a person's behavior

showing extreme cruelty or evil

Synonyms

diabolical, malevolent, satanic, villainous, wicked.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hellish

Used to describe something extremely unpleasant or unbearable, resembling the conditions of hell.

  • The weather was hellish, with relentless heat and humidity
  • His experience in the abandoned house was hellish, filled with fear and discomfort
diabolical

Used to describe something that is wickedly evil or cruel, often with a sense of cunning or intelligence.

  • The criminal's plan was diabolical, involving a cunning sequence of events to evade capture
  • The antagonist in the movie had a diabolical smile that sent chills down the spine
satanic

Used to describe something associated with Satan or extremely evil, often with a sense of dark ritual or malevolence.

  • The cult's activities were described as satanic, involving disturbing rituals
  • The horror movie depicted a satanic figure orchestrating sinister events
malevolent

Used to describe a person or action that shows ill will, intending harm or evil towards others.

  • She cast a malevolent glance at her rival, clearly wishing her ill
  • The malevolent spirit haunted the house, causing mischief and fear
wicked

Used to describe someone or something morally wrong or evil, but can also be used colloquially to mean excellent or cool.

  • The wicked witch cast a spell on the village
  • He had a wicked sense of humor that lightened the mood
  • Her performance in the play was wicked, impressing everyone
villainous

Used to describe someone who behaves like a villain, being cruel, evil, or morally reprehensible.

  • The villainous character in the book was responsible for many heinous deeds
  • His villainous actions ruined many lives

Examples of usage

  • The villain's hellish actions terrorized the town.
  • His hellish behavior towards his employees led to a high turnover rate.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word originates from 'hell', which comes from the Old English 'hel', referring to a place of torment.
  • It began to be used in the 1500s to describe things that were as bad or frightening as hell.
  • The suffix '-ish' suggests a likeness or resemblance, so 'hellish' means something like hell.

Literature

  • In Dante Alighieri's 'The Divine Comedy', hell is depicted with vivid and horrifying imagery, often described as 'hellish'.
  • Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein' explores hellish themes of suffering and despair in the creation of a tragic creature.
  • William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' illustrates a hellish descent into savagery among children, reflecting human nature’s dark side.

Psychology

  • Experiencing 'hellish' thoughts can be related to anxiety or depression, highlighting mental suffering.
  • The term can describe intense emotional pain, often used in therapy to help clients articulate their struggles.
  • People may refer to certain memories as hellish when discussing traumatic experiences, illustrating distress.

Pop Culture

  • In movies, hellish scenes often portray chaos and suffering, enhancing the drama of horror films.
  • Video games frequently use hellish environments filled with monsters and challenges to create high-intensity gameplay.
  • Hellish themes are common in heavy metal music, often exploring dark subject matter and human struggles.

Science

  • The planet Venus is often described as hellish due to its extreme temperatures and toxic atmosphere.
  • Researchers study conditions in hellish environments to understand extremophiles—organisms that thrive in extreme conditions on Earth.
  • In geology, 'hellish' might describe severe volcanic activity or disasters like eruptions, leading to devastating consequences.

Translations

Translations of the word "hellish" in other languages:

🇵🇹 infernal

🇮🇳 नर्क जैसा

🇩🇪 höllisch

🇮🇩 neraka

🇺🇦 пекельний

🇵🇱 piekielny

🇯🇵 地獄の

🇫🇷 infernal

🇪🇸 infernal

🇹🇷 cehennem gibi

🇰🇷 지옥 같은

🇸🇦 جهنمي

🇨🇿 pekelný

🇸🇰 pekelný

🇨🇳 地狱般的

🇸🇮 peklenski

🇮🇸 helvíti

🇰🇿 тозақтық

🇬🇪 ჯოჯოხეთური

🇦🇿 cəhənnəm kimi

🇲🇽 infernal

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,146, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.