Hades

American  

[hay-deez] / ˈheɪ diz /

noun

1. Classical Mythology.

   1. the underworld inhabited by departed souls.

   2. the god ruling the underworld; Pluto.

2. (in the Revised Version of the New Testament) the abode or state of the dead.

3. (often lowercase) hell.

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Hades British  

/ ˈheɪdiːz /

noun

1. Greek myth

   1. the underworld abode of the souls of the dead

   2. Pluto, the god of the underworld, brother of Zeus and husband of Persephone

2. New Testament the abode or state of the dead

3. informal (often not capital) hell

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Hades Cultural  

1. The Greek and Roman god of the underworld and the ruler of the dead. Also called Dis. The underworld itself was also known to the Greeks as Hades.

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The Greek and Roman underworld later became associated with the hell of Christianity, as in the expression “hot as Hades.”

Other Word Forms

• Hadean
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Hades

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Hades

One of the most haunting shots is Odysseus sprinting out of Hades chased by an army of the dead who regret following him into battle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

While nLight’s lasers haven’t yet been used under combat conditions, the company has mounted its Hades 70kW units on U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026

Nothing says “I’m building my brand” like a signature scent from Loewe or a standout patchwork cardigan from indie-darling brand Hades.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

It fended off competition from Death Stranding 2, Nintendo platformer Donkey Kong Bananza, indie games Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades 2, and medieval adventure Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 to claim the top prize.

From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2025

Two children of the Underworld would enter the House of Hades.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• inferno
• misery
• nightmare
• purgatory