as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
the chaste heroines and nefarious villains of old-time melodramas
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Recent Examples of nefarious
The data managed by 23andMe could eventually be used in any number of negative or nefarious ways, from discrimination to executing a sophisticated scam.
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
When Kelley’s narrator finds tall and lanky Sylvia, he is so taken with her – and her delicious tomatoes – that he’s thrown off guard and has trouble asking about the nefarious business.
—Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2025
Consider True Romance, the second of Kilmer’s three collaborations with the cult action director Tony Scott—which features one of his most nefarious characters, despite the brevity of the part.
—Beatrice Loayza, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
The programmatic landscape is such a complex environment that excluding questionable content or nefarious actors is nearly an impossible task.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nefarious
Usa Today, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
When Kelley’s narrator finds tall and lanky Sylvia, he is so taken with her – and her delicious tomatoes – that he’s thrown off guard and has trouble asking about the nefarious business.
—Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2025
Consider True Romance, the second of Kilmer’s three collaborations with the cult action director Tony Scott—which features one of his most nefarious characters, despite the brevity of the part.
—Beatrice Loayza, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
The programmatic landscape is such a complex environment that excluding questionable content or nefarious actors is nearly an impossible task.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nefarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nefarious
Adjective
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While the practice of using haint blue to ward off evil spirits might not be as common, the color has bled into the mainstream, with major paint companies like Sherwin-Williams and PPG Industries, Inc selling paint inspired by the shade.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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The royal palace is infested with evil spirits and one of them has taken hold of the young prince.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The suit will argue that Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which grants the president increased powers during an economic emergency, to impose tariffs is unlawful and requires congressional approval.—
Elaine Mallon,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Apr. 2025
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The lawsuit will argue that Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to enact tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China is unlawful.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Regardless of what transpired between the two cast members, on or off screen, Aspen was unfairly portrayed as an immoral character.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Essence,
11 Apr. 2025
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We are limited to enforcing the law, not policing immoral behavior.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Sammie’s father is right to be concerned, but wrong about the sinful nature of the blues—Sinners depicts musical talent as a divine blessing, a power that can pierce the veil between worlds, for good or for ill.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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April 20: Projections showed A Minecraft Movie remaining atop the box office this Easter weekend, but audiences actually felt more sinful than predicted.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This was a vicious weaponization of your government.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Shauna may be the vicious Antler Queen now, but Lottie also played a role in Mari’s death.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The imitation Punisher logo on Cole’s bullet was no act of flattery, but the most vile of insults.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
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Fans, some of them little kids parroting what their parents were saying, called him vile names.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Editor’s tip: Niacinamide is a multitasker that blurs the look of dark spots, evens your skin tone, and balances your complexion.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
15 Apr. 2025
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And so by some sociologists, camp is thought to be this form of dark humor serving as a coping mechanism to historical marginalization.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That means more time for Rojas, who has shown more bad than good to begin this season.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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Black Mirror’s most effective episodes use their high-concept premises to explore people’s hunger for connection and validation, and how our increasingly tech-forward, capitalistic world can stretch those human impulses to the limit for better or (almost always) worse.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nefarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nefarious. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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