nefarious
adjective
extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous.
nefariously
-
a word derived from
nefarious.
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.
Later we’ll hear a young oligarch say, while chuckling nefariously, “I have a banker’s personality. I love money!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
The probe alleged that Powell was somehow acting nefariously in his oversight of the renovation at the Federal Reserve’s headquarters in D.C.
From Slate ● Apr. 24, 2026
In a two-star review, the Telegraph's Robbie Collin called it a "nefariously lazy" adaptation that is little more than a "half-hearted parody of a whodunnit".
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2025
Reyes conveys Celie’s deep-feeling nature with grace, and then shows how that performance of empathy can be weaponized toward a nefariously selfish end.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2023
Hull was in possession, and refused to yield an acre of the lands he had so nefariously acquired.
From Masterpieces of Mystery Riddle Stories by Joseph Lewis French
