helluva
Americanadjective
adverb
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(intensifier)
a helluva difficult job
he's a helluva guy
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(intensifier)
it's helluva tough out here
Etymology
Origin of helluva
First recorded in 1915–20; a phonetic spelling representation of hell of a in continuous rapid speech
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.
I’m not going to lie: That’s a helluva lot of cash.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
“You make a helluva lot more money with a weaker dollar,” the president said in July.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025
Brandon Gill, the football coach of nearby Buford High School, wrote on social media that Aspinwall was a "helluva human being" who "would do anything for anyone."
From BBC • Sep. 5, 2024
It all builds up to a helluva surprise—fun fact: Not all U.S. presidents are elected.
From Slate • Aug. 9, 2024
“That’s a helluva cut. Wild pig coulda done it. Or a bobcat maybe. You should see the claws on them things.”
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
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.
