felonious
Americanadjective
-
Law. pertaining to, of the nature of, or involving a felony.
felonious homicide; felonious intent.
-
wicked; base; villainous.
adjective
-
criminal law of, involving, or constituting a felony
-
obsolete wicked; base
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of felonious
1375–1425; felony + -ous; replacing late Middle English felonous < Anglo-French, Old French
Explanation
Something felonious is against the law, or related to crime. A felonious spree might involve stealing cars and robbing banks. Criminal activity is felonious, and if you know someone who shoplifts or steals credit card numbers, you could call him your felonious acquaintance. If a jewelry store manager forgets to lock the shop door, it's a felonious opportunity, unless a passing thief restrains her felonious impulses. Felonious and the related felony come from the Old French felonie, "wickedness, treachery, or crime," from the Gallo-Roman fellonem, "evil-doer."
Vocabulary lists containing felonious
The Glass Castle
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Red Kayak
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Way Off: Synonyms for "Wrong"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Felonious Munk also stars in this new episode.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2020
Dennis Banks, 42, is a comedian and social activist who uses the stage name Felonious Munk.
From Chicago Tribune • Aug. 21, 2014
Felonious clerks were thenceforward to suffer like secular criminals.
From The Divorce of Catherine of Aragon The Story as Told by the Imperial Ambassadors Resident at the Court of Henry VIII by Froude, J.A.
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.
