Pronunciations (3)
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/nɪˈfɛəɹi.əs/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
- Received-Pronunciation
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/nɪˈfeːɹi.əs/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
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nɛˈfɛəɹi.əs
Adjective
Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics.
- Examples
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Aliens have a nefarious connotation in many science fiction books.
More examples (2)
"If the vessel be no fair-trading slaver, nor a common cruiser of his Majesty, it is as tangible as the best man's reasoning, that she may be neither more nor less than the ship of that nefarious pirate the Red Rover."
Mommsen […]declares that Catiline in particular was "one of the most nefarious men in that nefarious age. His villanies belong to the criminal records, not to history."
The fact that the room was still in darkness made it obvious that something nefarious was afoot. Plainly there was dirty work in preparation at the cross-roads.
More examples (1)
“I try to let everyone back here in Minnesota know exactly the nefarious activities that are taking place in Washington.”
Adjective
extremely wicked
- Synonyms
- Examples
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nefarious schemes
a villainous plot
More examples (1)
a villainous band of thieves