hellacious

hellacious

English

Etymology

Unclear origins; perhaps from hell +‎ -acious

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hɛˈleɪʃəs/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃəs

Adjective

hellacious (comparative more hellacious, superlative most hellacious)

1. horrible, awful, hellish, agonizing
   • Dan Horgan; Bringing Back Boxing: A Young Journalist's Attempt to Revive the Sweet Science, pg. 86

     Because he throws so many hellacious punches, he has the chance of knocking out any fighter on any given night.

2. nasty, repellent.
3. (slang) Remarkable, unbelievable, unusual.

Derived terms

• hellaciously
• hellaciousness