hellscape

American  

[hel-skeyp] / ˈhɛlˌskeɪp /

noun

1. a bleak landscape or one that resembles hell.

   a post-apocalyptic hellscape.

2. a place or time that is hopeless, unbearable, or irredeemable: College application season is a hellscape.

   It’s impossible to avoid the hellscape of social media.

   College application season is a hellscape.

   Enjoy your existence on this hellscape in whatever way you can.

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Etymology

Origin of hellscape

First recorded in 1890–95; hell ( def. ) + -scape ( def. )

Example Sentences

You make your way through whatever you went through — the subway, the traffic, the hellscape that is Times Square — you finally get here, and then you hope that the entire experience will be as short as humanly possible.

From Los Angeles Times

Sam Paparo has called a “hellscape” for the Chinese military if it attempts an invasion across the Taiwan Strait.

From The Wall Street Journal

A very upscale suburban hellscape.

From The Wall Street Journal

Indo-Pacific Command, has discussed using such a model in the Pacific, dubbing it “Hellscape.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“Every city has its problems, and I don’t think San Francisco is any different,” but “it’s not a hellscape,” said Limlamai, who has been in the city since 2021.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• antiutopia
• cacotopia