helluva

[hel-uh-vuh]

See more synonyms for helluva on Thesaurus.com

adjective, adverb Pronunciation Spelling.

hell of a (used as an intensifier): We had a helluva time getting through the heavy traffic. She's a helluva good player!

Origin of helluva

First recorded in 1915–20

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for helluva

Contemporary Examples

Hosting the show really is the most thankless—and one of the most trying—jobs in showbiz, but DeGeneres did a helluva job.
Surprise! Ellen DeGeneres is the Best Oscars Host in a Decade
Marlow Stern
March 3, 2014
“This Congress has not instilled a helluva lot of confidence in the party,” says longtime consultant Mark Corallo.
The Governors Who Could Beat Christie
Michelle Cottle
November 8, 2013
There are a helluva lot of reasons to cast aspersions on Mumford & Sons.
Mumford & Sons Rock Brooklyn’s Barclays Center
Marlow Stern
February 7, 2013
To her credit, she did a helluva job—even premiering an unreleased Deadmau5 song.
Avicii, Superstar DJ, Hits Sundance
Marlow Stern
January 20, 2013
All things considered, Cheney remains convinced that he did a helluva job.
Dick Cheney Sounds Off on CIA Torture, Iraq, and More in New Sundance Documentary
Marlow Stern
January 18, 2013

Historical Examples

Orkins might be the forefather of a new race—a helluva race.
The Whispering Spheres
Russell Robert Winterbotham
"Your wife took a helluva chance, Gordon," Trench said heavily.
Police Your Planet
Lester del Rey
And a helluva recommendation we would get from him, too, I bet yer!
Elkan Lubliner, American
Montague Glass
It's a helluva risk every time you make a shot, in spite of all the propaganda.
Tight Squeeze
Dean Charles Ing
But that would still be one helluva lot better than letting millions of acre feet just seep out to sea.
The Thirst Quenchers
Rick Raphael

British Dictionary definitions for helluva

helluva

adverb, adjective informal

(intensifier)a helluva difficult job; he's a helluva guy
Southern African (intensifier)it's helluva tough out here

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for helluva

adj.

1910, attempt to represent the casual pronunciation of expression hell of a _____, which is attested from 1776 (see hell).

helluva

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}helluva

Examples from the Web for helluva

Contemporary Examples

Hosting the show really is the most thankless—and one of the most trying—jobs in showbiz, but DeGeneres did a helluva job.

“This Congress has not instilled a helluva lot of confidence in the party,” says longtime consultant Mark Corallo.

There are a helluva lot of reasons to cast aspersions on Mumford & Sons.

To her credit, she did a helluva job—even premiering an unreleased Deadmau5 song.

All things considered, Cheney remains convinced that he did a helluva job.

Historical Examples

Orkins might be the forefather of a new race—a helluva race.

"Your wife took a helluva chance, Gordon," Trench said heavily.

And a helluva recommendation we would get from him, too, I bet yer!

It's a helluva risk every time you make a shot, in spite of all the propaganda.

But that would still be one helluva lot better than letting millions of acre feet just seep out to sea.

helluva

Word Origin and History for helluva

adj.

Origin of helluva