1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the hellacious heat was more than we could bear
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hellacious
There were no cage dives or hellacious crashes into the announcer's table.
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Brian Mazique, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024
Gradishar was the spine and soul of coordinator Joe Collier’s hellacious 3-4 defense, a wild bunch that dragged the Broncos, kicking and screaming, out of NFL obscurity in 1977 and into the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 30 July 2024
Relatable to anyone who has ever attended a wedding (or experienced hellacious food poisoning), consider streaming Bridesmaids.
—James Mercadante, Ilana Gordon, Stephanie Kaloi, EW.com, 25 July 2024
This is shaping up to be a hellacious summer, even by Lone Star standards.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for hellacious 
Brian Mazique, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024
Gradishar was the spine and soul of coordinator Joe Collier’s hellacious 3-4 defense, a wild bunch that dragged the Broncos, kicking and screaming, out of NFL obscurity in 1977 and into the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 30 July 2024
Relatable to anyone who has ever attended a wedding (or experienced hellacious food poisoning), consider streaming Bridesmaids.
—James Mercadante, Ilana Gordon, Stephanie Kaloi, EW.com, 25 July 2024
This is shaping up to be a hellacious summer, even by Lone Star standards.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for hellacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hellacious
Adjective
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The warm front is a sharp contrast to the close of last week when an arctic surge swept across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with snow squalls, whiteouts and intense bursts of wind that left 20 million Americans under winter weather warnings or advisories.Susan Miller, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
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Becoming a professor requires years and years of intense study, often carried out in isolation and poverty.Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2024
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The day of his funeral was an incredibly difficult one for his grieving widow Barbara, their four adult children, including Kordisch Tucker, and his grandchildren.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
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But extracting data from a phone can be extremely difficult, depending on the model of the phone and the operating system.Holly Yan, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
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Read More: How Leaked Police Interviews with Benjamin Netanyahu Became ‘The Bibi Files’ The only other Gaza City hospital with a NICU, Al-Sahaba hospital, operates under limited capacity, and is only able to offer basic level one care to infants— those without complex or intensive medical needs.Juwayriah Wright, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
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The company also provides intensive and critical care units; cardiovascular, digestive disease, neurosciences, musculoskeletal and obstetrics services; and outpatient services like physical therapy.Charles Rotblut, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Gracefully opting out Navigating the discomfort of setting boundaries around gift-giving traditions can be challenging.Julianna Bragg, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
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Choosing the best baked ham online can be challenging—there are glazed and non-glazed options, spiral-cut and whole, boneless and bone-in, and large or small hams.Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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With his reputation and legacy on the line, Jay-Z is in for a fierce fight.Molly McPherson, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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Bridging the hoedown and the ballroom, Beyoncé alternates between angelic croons and fierce commands over a thumping bassline and a springy acoustic guitar.Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In a time when people approach political, social and economic issues with a different set of information and fake news is rampant, the best way to do that is to approach tough conversations with stories rather than facts.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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The clients’ storefronts are positioned to succeed in a sometimes tough marketplace by focusing on exclusivity and quality.Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Light winds, increasing humidity and a chance of rain are forecast to bring relief to Los Angeles on Thursday after dry and windy conditions fueled the spread of the ferocious Franklin fire in Malibu this week.Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
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Tehran, Washington, and five other world powers later inked an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program in 2015, despite ferocious lobbying from Israeli leaders.Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The legal profession has long been recognized for its rigorous standards and competitive environment.Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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The finding that Israel has perpetrated genocide is a conclusion based on painstaking research and rigorous legal analysis.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hellacious
Cite this Entry
“Hellacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hellacious. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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