nefarious

[ ni-fair-ee-uhs ]

/ nɪˈfɛər i əs /

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adjective

extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous: a nefarious plot.

Nearby words

Origin of nefarious

1595–1605; < Latin nefārius wicked, vile, equivalent to nefās offense against divine or moral law (ne- negative prefix + fās law, right) + -ius -ious, with intervocalic s > r

SYNONYMS FOR nefarious

flagitious, heinous, infamous; vile, atrocious, execrable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nefarious ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR nefarious

good, honest.

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Related forms

ne·far·i·ous·ly, adverbne·far·i·ous·ness, nounun·ne·far·i·ous, adjectiveun·ne·far·i·ous·ly, adverb

un·ne·far·i·ous·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nefarious

Sometimes politicians oppose reform for nefarious reasons—to protect a special interest or a major donor, for example.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?|Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rumors swirled that the McStays had gone into Mexico and were involved in nefarious dealings with drug cartels.
Family's Best Friend Charged With Murdering Them All|Nina Strochlic|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Green-Wood is more famous for its nefarious residents, those of the drug-peddling, political-swindling, hit-men variety.
Brooklyn’s Gangster Graveyard|Nina Strochlic|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Greece claims they were looted from the Parthenon by a nefarious British Indiana Jones character in the early 1800s.
Can Amal Clooney Save Greece’s Antiquities?|Nico Hines|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In the past year, 29 African rangers were killed protecting wildlife from nefarious hunters.
South Africa’s Great Rhino Airlift|Nina Strochlic|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
First you have the temerity to carry out something approaching a theft, a common and nefarious business.
King of Ranleigh|F. S. (Frederick Sadlier) Brereton
Detailed for course of bombing instruction; and between these dates I learn much concerning these nefarious love-tokens.
In the Line of Battle|Various
Plain, too, was the fact that Higginbotham was engaged in some nefarious enterprise.
The Radio Boys with the Revenue Guards|Gerald Breckenridge
So it was Shaughnessy's good fortune, for his nefarious ends, that most men refused to take him too seriously.
The Lash|Olin L. Lyman
"The public demands that your nefarious trust be compelled to recognize its rights," Cosden replied smiling.
The Bachelors|William Dana Orcutt

British Dictionary definitions for nefarious

nefarious

/ (nɪˈfɛərɪəs) /

adjective

evil; wicked; sinful

Derived Formsnefariously, adverbnefariousness, noun

Word Origin for nefarious

C17: from Latin nefārius, from nefās unlawful deed, from nē not + fās divine law

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 nefarious

nefarious

adj.

c.1600, from Latin nefarius "wicked, abominable, impious," from nefas "crime, wrong, impiety," from ne- "not" (see un-) + fas "right, lawful, divinely spoken," related to fari "to speak" (see fame (n.)). Related: Nefariously.