nefarious
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- nefariously adverb
- nefariousness noun
- unnefarious adjective
- unnefariously adverb
- unnefariousness noun
Etymology
Origin of nefarious
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Let him know that there’s a chance this is a romance scam/honey trap and that even the smartest people get hoodwinked by nefarious characters who take advantage of their loneliness.
From MarketWatch
Related: ‘Could a nefarious caregiver steal her money?’
From MarketWatch
What measures are you proactively taking to ensure your personal data isn’t used for nefarious means?
From Salon
Web tracking, aside from having nefarious connotations, can drain your device of battery — but with this tool, you can browse up to 44% faster, use up to 39% less bandwidth and greatly improve battery life.
From Salon
And you may or may not have been given my number as part of my ex-friend’s nefarious revenge plot.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
