nefarious

[ ni-fair-ee-uhs ]
/ nɪˈfɛər i əs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR nefarious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous: a nefarious plot.

Origin of nefarious

1595–1605; < Latin nefārius wicked, vile, equivalent to nefās offense against divine or moral law ( ne- negative prefix + fās law, right) + -ius -ious, with intervocalic s > r

OTHER WORDS FROM nefarious

Words nearby nefarious

neenah, neencephalon, neep, neet, nef, nefarious, nefazodone, nefertem, nefertiti, nefud desert, neg

Words related to nefariousness

horror, barbarity, depravity, enormity, wickedness, immorality, iniquity, evil, crime, deviltry, wrong, corruption, misdeed, wrongdoing, sin, evilness, villainy, sinfulness, outrageousness, abomination

Example sentences from the Web for nefariousness

  • Mary gratified her eager mind by careful studies in this chosen line of nefariousness.

    Within the Law |Marvin Dana

  • The nefariousness of the scheme thus revealed infuriated Barmouth.

    The Intrusions of Peggy |Anthony Hope

  • There was a nefariousness about the new suggestion that proved very attractive in Blentmouth.

    Tristram of Blent |Anthony Hope

British Dictionary definitions for nefariousness

nefarious
/ (nɪˈfɛərɪəs) /

adjective

evil; wicked; sinful

Derived forms of nefarious

nefariously, adverb nefariousness, noun

Word Origin for nefarious

C17: from Latin nefārius, from nefās unlawful deed, from nē not + fās divine law