hell
noun
ˈhel 
1
a(1)
: a nether world in which the dead continue to exist : hades
(2)
: the nether realm of the devil and the demons in which condemned people suffer everlasting punishment —often used in curses
go to hell
or as a generalized term of abuse the hell with it
b
Christian Science : error sense 2b, sin
2
a
: a place or state of misery, torment, or wickedness
war is hell
W. T. Sherman
W. T. Sherman b
: a place or state of turmoil or destruction
all hell broke loose
c
: a severe scolding
also : flak, grief
gave me hell for coming in late
d
: unrestrained fun or sportiveness
the kids were full of hell
—often used in the phrase for the hell of it especially to suggest action on impulse or without a serious motive decided to go for the hell of it
e
: an extremely unpleasant and often inescapable situation
rush-hour hell
3
archaic : a tailor's receptacle
4
—used as an interjection
hell, I don't know!
or as an intensive hurts like hellfunny as hell
—often used in the phrase hell of a it was one hell of a good fight
or hell out of scared the hell out of him
or with the or in moved way the hell up northwhat in hell is wrong, now?
Phrases
from hell : being the worst or most dreadful of its kind
a vacation from hell
: very hard on or destructive to
the constant traveling is hell on your digestive system
: difficulties of whatever kind or size
will stand by her convictions come hell or high water
: dire consequences
if he's late there'll be hell to pay
—used interjectionally to express a lack of concern about consequences or risks
it might cost him half his estate … but what the hell N. W. Aldrich born 1935
N. W. Aldrich born 1935
Synonyms
- Gehenna
- Pandemonium
- perdition
- Tophet
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Getting the loan approved was pure hell. He went through hell during his divorce. She had to go through hell to get where she is today. Living with the disease can be a hell on earth. The pain has made her life a living hell.
Recent Examples on the Web These sculptural earrings are chic as hell, without trying too hard. Vanessa Powell, Men's Health, 6 Sep. 2022 Delhi Crime is fast-paced, well shot, and suspenseful as hell. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2022 It was insanely well done, very classy and stuff, but emotional as hell. Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 24 Aug. 2022 As a woman who had a sit-down with one of the world's most reclusive leaders, Gina Lollobrigida can sure as hell run for Senate at 95 years young. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 The thought of a cold future that’s metallic and steampunk–all those video games that show the future–seems like hell to me. Liza Lentini, SPIN, 12 Aug. 2022 All hell breaks loose when the malevolent entity possesses Mia. Travis Bean, Forbes, 31 July 2022 When Island Home, the group’s latest resort located off the English coast, opens its doors, A-listers beeline — but tempers and tensions come to a boil, blackmail begins, and all hell breaks loose. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2022 In the case of POTUS, a raucous feminist farce about seven extremely capable women tasked with keeping a very incapable commander-in-chief out of trouble, all hell breaks loose in the White House. Leena Kim, Town & Country, 12 June 2022 See More
Vanessa Powell, Men's Health, 6 Sep. 2022 Delhi Crime is fast-paced, well shot, and suspenseful as hell. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2022 It was insanely well done, very classy and stuff, but emotional as hell. Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 24 Aug. 2022 As a woman who had a sit-down with one of the world's most reclusive leaders, Gina Lollobrigida can sure as hell run for Senate at 95 years young. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 The thought of a cold future that’s metallic and steampunk–all those video games that show the future–seems like hell to me. Liza Lentini, SPIN, 12 Aug. 2022 All hell breaks loose when the malevolent entity possesses Mia. Travis Bean, Forbes, 31 July 2022 When Island Home, the group’s latest resort located off the English coast, opens its doors, A-listers beeline — but tempers and tensions come to a boil, blackmail begins, and all hell breaks loose. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2022 In the case of POTUS, a raucous feminist farce about seven extremely capable women tasked with keeping a very incapable commander-in-chief out of trouble, all hell breaks loose in the White House. Leena Kim, Town & Country, 12 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English helle, going back to Old English hell, helle, going back to Germanic *haljō (whence also Old Saxon hellia "abode of the dead," Old High German hella, hellia, Old Norse hel "abode of the dead, the death goddess," Gothic halja, translating Greek Háidēs), perhaps from an o-grade nominal derivative of the Germanic verbal base *hel- "cover, hide" — more at conceal
Note: The connection with *hel- "conceal" is traditional in the etymological literature, though given that the literal meaning of *haljō, the mythological abode of the dead, is unknown, it must be regarded as speculative.
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Phrases Containing hell
Kids Definition
hell
noun
ˈhel
1
: a place where evil people are believed in some religions to suffer after death
2
: a place or state of misery or wickedness
After the injury, life was hell.
Biographical Definition
Hell
biographical name
ˈhel
Stefan (Walter) 1962– German (Romanian-born) chemist
hell
noun
1
as in inferno
the place of punishment for the wicked after death condemned to hell for their sins Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- inferno
- abyss
- perdition
- blazes
- hades
- pit
- purgatory
- Pandemonium
- underworld
- Gehenna
- netherworld
- hellfire
- Tophet
- Tartarus
- Sheol
- shades
- fire and brimstone
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heaven
- paradise
- bliss
- sky
- kingdom come
- empyrean
- elysian fields
- glory
- nirvana
- promised land
- Sion
- New Jerusalem
- Elysium
- Zion
- Valhalla
- happy hunting ground
2
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness picking cotton under the hot summer sun was hell Synonyms & Similar Words
- nightmare
- agony
- misery
- torment
- torture
- horror
- curse
- ordeal
- murder
- Gehenna
- misfortune
- tragedy
- cross
- calamity
- tribulation
- calvary
- affliction
- trial
- bummer
- downer
- thorn
- drag
- gall
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heaven
- pleasure
- joy
- paradise
- fun
- delight
- entertainment
- recreation
- diversion
- riot
- picnic
- lark
3
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order all hell broke loose when the jury's verdict was announced Synonyms & Similar Words
- havoc
- mess
- chaos
- heck
- confusion
- jumble
- disorder
- tangle
- disarray
- riot
- disorganization
- snake pit
- shambles
- muss
- messiness
- disarrangement
- tumble
- disorderliness
- muddle
- clutter
- maze
- anarchy
- welter
- labyrinth
- misorder
- free-for-all
- chance-medley
- mare's nest
- dishevelment
- disorderedness
- snarl
- misrule
- lawlessness
- storm
- web
- maelstrom
- knot
- shuffle
- mishmash
- litter
- morass
- bollix
- hodgepodge
- medley
- motley
- miscellany
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- order
- system
- plan
- method
- orderliness
- pattern