nefarious

[ ni-fair-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous:

   a nefarious plot.

   Synonyms: execrable, atrocious, vile, infamous, heinous, flagitious

   Antonyms: honest, good

nefarious

/ nɪˈfɛərɪəs /

adjective

1. evil; wicked; sinful

Derived Forms

• neˈfariously, adverb
• neˈfariousness, noun

Other Words From

• ne·fari·ous·ly adverb
• ne·fari·ous·ness noun
• unne·fari·ous adjective
• unne·fari·ous·ly adverb
• unne·fari·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nefarious¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin nefārius “wicked, vile,” equivalent to nefās “offense against divine or moral law” (from ne-, negative prefix + fās “law, right”) + -ius -ious

Word History and Origins

Origin of nefarious¹

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

Example Sentences

However, many online immediately used the story to suggest nefarious activities were taking place.

From BBC

Even in politics, the foundational role of protecting free speech is the promotion of free ideas, not to protect a nefarious publisher’s monopoly.

From Salon

These same nefarious forces will oppose any efforts to impose fairness in the media’s coverage of politics, because, for now, they benefit politically from the lies.

From Salon

The attackers in both the Pittsburgh and El Paso incidents were motivated in part by the “Great Replacement” theory, a white supremacist trope claiming that the ongoing “replacement” of the white, Christian population in the United States is the deliberate strategy of a nefarious cabal.

From Los Angeles Times

That means Trump could still exploit a day-of Republican advantage in turnout — if there is one — to once again claim a premature victory and potentially suggest there is something nefarious about the count continuing.

From Salon

Related Words

• heinous
• horrible
• odious
• outrageous
• shameful
• vicious
• vile