"nefarious" meaning in English

See nefarious in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /nɪˈfɛː.ɹi.əs/ [UK], /nɪˈfɛɚ.i.əs/ [General-American], /nəˈfɛɚ.i.əs/ [General-American], /nɪˈfeː.ɹi.əs/ [General-Australian] Audio: en-au-nefarious.ogg Forms: more nefarious [comparative], most nefarious [superlative]
Rhymes: -ɛəɹiəs Etymology: From Latin nefārius (“execrable, abominable”), from nefās (“something contrary to divine law, an impious deed, sin, crime”), from ne- (“not”) + fās (“the dictates of religion, divine law”), which is related to Latin for (“I speak, I say”) and cognate to Ancient Greek φημί (phēmí, “I say”). Etymology templates: {{bor|en|la|nefārius||execrable, abominable}} Latin nefārius (“execrable, abominable”) Head templates: {{en-adj}} nefarious (comparative more nefarious, superlative most nefarious)
  1. Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics. Synonyms: evil, iniquitous, sinister, underhanded, vile, good-for-nothing, evil Derived forms: nefariously, nefariousness Translations (sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics): شَائِن (šāʔin) (Arabic), престъпен (prestǎpen) (Bulgarian), berucht (Dutch), schandelijk (Dutch), misdadig (Dutch), skandala (Esperanto), malfarinda (Esperanto), paheellinen (Finnish), paha (Finnish), pirullinen (Finnish), turmeltunut (Finnish), katala (Finnish), infâme (French), malfaisant (French), néfaste (French), maléfique (French), malveillant (French), berüchtigt (German), schändlich (German), ruchlos (German), verachtenswert (German), bösartig (German), böse (German), gyalázatos (Hungarian), alávaló (Hungarian), bithiúnta (Irish), nefasto (Italian), scellerato (Italian), diabolico (Italian), infernale (Italian), sinistro (Italian), 사악(邪惡)하다 (saakhada) (Korean), nefārius (Latin), avskyelig (Norwegian), skjendig (Norwegian), schentlich (Plautdietsch), nefasto (Portuguese), abject (Romanian), infam (Romanian), păcătos (Romanian), vicios (Romanian), бесче́стный (besčéstnyj) (Russian), нече́стный (nečéstnyj) (Russian), ни́зкий (nízkij) (Russian), гну́сный (gnúsnyj) (Russian), ме́рзкий (mérzkij) (Russian), по́длый (pódlyj) (Russian), nefario (Spanish), nefando (Spanish), feo [Mexico] (Spanish), infame (Spanish), vicioso (Spanish), malvado (Spanish), inicuo (Spanish), skändlig (Swedish), gudlös (Swedish), нечестивий (nečestyvyj) [masculine] (Ukrainian), злочинний (zločynnyj) [masculine] (Ukrainian), нечесний (nečesnyj) [masculine] (Ukrainian), ниций (nycyj) [masculine] (Ukrainian)
{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "nefārius",
        "4": "",
        "5": "execrable, abominable"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin nefārius (“execrable, abominable”)",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Latin nefārius (“execrable, abominable”), from nefās (“something contrary to divine law, an impious deed, sin, crime”), from ne- (“not”) + fās (“the dictates of religion, divine law”), which is related to Latin for (“I speak, I say”) and cognate to Ancient Greek φημί (phēmí, “I say”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more nefarious",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most nefarious",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "nefarious (comparative more nefarious, superlative most nefarious)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Arabic translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Esperanto translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hungarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Irish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Korean translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Latin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Norwegian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Plautdietsch translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Romanian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Ukrainian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "word": "nefariously"
        },
        {
          "word": "nefariousness"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Aliens have a nefarious connotation in many science fiction books.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1828, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 2, in The Red Rover:",
          "text": "\"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.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1877, Anthony Trollope, chapter 9, in The Life of Cicero:",
          "text": "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.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1921, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 26, in The Indiscretions of Archie:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2009 October 14, Monica Davey, “Fact Checker Finds Falsehoods in Remarks”, in New York Times, retrieved 2014-05-12:",
          "text": "“I try to let everyone back here in Minnesota know exactly the nefarious activities that are taking place in Washington.”",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics."
      ],
      "id": "en-nefarious-en-adj-soO9VW7t",
      "links": [
        [
          "Sinful",
          "sinful"
        ],
        [
          "villainous",
          "villainous"
        ],
        [
          "criminal",
          "criminal"
        ],
        [
          "wicked",
          "wicked"
        ],
        [
          "noteworthy",
          "noteworthy"
        ],
        [
          "notorious",
          "notorious"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "evil"
        },
        {
          "word": "iniquitous"
        },
        {
          "word": "sinister"
        },
        {
          "word": "underhanded"
        },
        {
          "word": "vile"
        },
        {
          "word": "good-for-nothing"
        },
        {
          "word": "evil"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "šāʔin",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "شَائِن"
        },
        {
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "prestǎpen",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "престъпен"
        },
        {
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "berucht"
        },
        {
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "schandelijk"
        },
        {
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "misdadig"
        },
        {
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "skandala"
        },
        {
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "malfarinda"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "paheellinen"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "paha"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "pirullinen"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "turmeltunut"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "katala"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "infâme"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "malfaisant"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "néfaste"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "maléfique"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "malveillant"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "berüchtigt"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "schändlich"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "ruchlos"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "verachtenswert"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "bösartig"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "böse"
        },
        {
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "gyalázatos"
        },
        {
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "alávaló"
        },
        {
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "bithiúnta"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "nefasto"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "scellerato"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "diabolico"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "infernale"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "sinistro"
        },
        {
          "code": "ko",
          "lang": "Korean",
          "roman": "saakhada",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "사악(邪惡)하다"
        },
        {
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "nefārius"
        },
        {
          "code": "no",
          "lang": "Norwegian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "avskyelig"
        },
        {
          "code": "no",
          "lang": "Norwegian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "skjendig"
        },
        {
          "code": "pdt",
          "lang": "Plautdietsch",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "schentlich"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "nefasto"
        },
        {
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "abject"
        },
        {
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "infam"
        },
        {
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "păcătos"
        },
        {
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "vicios"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "besčéstnyj",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "бесче́стный"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "nečéstnyj",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "нече́стный"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "nízkij",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "ни́зкий"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "gnúsnyj",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "гну́сный"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "mérzkij",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "ме́рзкий"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "pódlyj",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "по́длый"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "nefario"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "nefando"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "tags": [
            "Mexico"
          ],
          "word": "feo"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "infame"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "vicioso"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "malvado"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "inicuo"
        },
        {
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "skändlig"
        },
        {
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "word": "gudlös"
        },
        {
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "nečestyvyj",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "нечестивий"
        },
        {
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "zločynnyj",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "злочинний"
        },
        {
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "nečesnyj",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "нечесний"
        },
        {
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "nycyj",
          "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "ниций"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/nɪˈfɛː.ɹi.əs/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nɪˈfɛɚ.i.əs/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nəˈfɛɚ.i.əs/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nɪˈfeː.ɹi.əs/",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-nefarious.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a0/En-au-nefarious.ogg/En-au-nefarious.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/En-au-nefarious.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛəɹiəs"
    }
  ],
  "word": "nefarious"
}
{
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "nefariously"
    },
    {
      "word": "nefariousness"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "nefārius",
        "4": "",
        "5": "execrable, abominable"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin nefārius (“execrable, abominable”)",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Latin nefārius (“execrable, abominable”), from nefās (“something contrary to divine law, an impious deed, sin, crime”), from ne- (“not”) + fās (“the dictates of religion, divine law”), which is related to Latin for (“I speak, I say”) and cognate to Ancient Greek φημί (phēmí, “I say”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more nefarious",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most nefarious",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "nefarious (comparative more nefarious, superlative most nefarious)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English adjectives",
        "English entries with incorrect language header",
        "English lemmas",
        "English terms borrowed from Latin",
        "English terms derived from Latin",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "Entries with translation boxes",
        "Pages with 1 entry",
        "Pages with entries",
        "Rhymes:English/ɛəɹiəs",
        "Rhymes:English/ɛəɹiəs/4 syllables",
        "Terms with Arabic translations",
        "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
        "Terms with Dutch translations",
        "Terms with Esperanto translations",
        "Terms with Finnish translations",
        "Terms with French translations",
        "Terms with German translations",
        "Terms with Hungarian translations",
        "Terms with Irish translations",
        "Terms with Italian translations",
        "Terms with Korean translations",
        "Terms with Latin translations",
        "Terms with Norwegian translations",
        "Terms with Plautdietsch translations",
        "Terms with Portuguese translations",
        "Terms with Romanian translations",
        "Terms with Russian translations",
        "Terms with Spanish translations",
        "Terms with Swedish translations",
        "Terms with Ukrainian translations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Aliens have a nefarious connotation in many science fiction books.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1828, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 2, in The Red Rover:",
          "text": "\"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.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1877, Anthony Trollope, chapter 9, in The Life of Cicero:",
          "text": "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.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1921, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 26, in The Indiscretions of Archie:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2009 October 14, Monica Davey, “Fact Checker Finds Falsehoods in Remarks”, in New York Times, retrieved 2014-05-12:",
          "text": "“I try to let everyone back here in Minnesota know exactly the nefarious activities that are taking place in Washington.”",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Sinful",
          "sinful"
        ],
        [
          "villainous",
          "villainous"
        ],
        [
          "criminal",
          "criminal"
        ],
        [
          "wicked",
          "wicked"
        ],
        [
          "noteworthy",
          "noteworthy"
        ],
        [
          "notorious",
          "notorious"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "evil"
        },
        {
          "word": "iniquitous"
        },
        {
          "word": "sinister"
        },
        {
          "word": "underhanded"
        },
        {
          "word": "vile"
        },
        {
          "word": "good-for-nothing"
        },
        {
          "word": "evil"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/nɪˈfɛː.ɹi.əs/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nɪˈfɛɚ.i.əs/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nəˈfɛɚ.i.əs/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nɪˈfeː.ɹi.əs/",
      "tags": [
        "General-Australian"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-nefarious.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a0/En-au-nefarious.ogg/En-au-nefarious.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/En-au-nefarious.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛəɹiəs"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "šāʔin",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "شَائِن"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "prestǎpen",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "престъпен"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "berucht"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "schandelijk"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "misdadig"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "skandala"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "malfarinda"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "paheellinen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "paha"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "pirullinen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "turmeltunut"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "katala"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "infâme"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "malfaisant"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "néfaste"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "maléfique"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "malveillant"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "berüchtigt"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "schändlich"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "ruchlos"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "verachtenswert"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "bösartig"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "böse"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "gyalázatos"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "alávaló"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "bithiúnta"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "nefasto"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "scellerato"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "diabolico"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "infernale"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "sinistro"
    },
    {
      "code": "ko",
      "lang": "Korean",
      "roman": "saakhada",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "사악(邪惡)하다"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "nefārius"
    },
    {
      "code": "no",
      "lang": "Norwegian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "avskyelig"
    },
    {
      "code": "no",
      "lang": "Norwegian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "skjendig"
    },
    {
      "code": "pdt",
      "lang": "Plautdietsch",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "schentlich"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "nefasto"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "abject"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "infam"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "păcătos"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "vicios"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "besčéstnyj",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "бесче́стный"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "nečéstnyj",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "нече́стный"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "nízkij",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "ни́зкий"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "gnúsnyj",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "гну́сный"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "mérzkij",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "ме́рзкий"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "pódlyj",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "по́длый"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "nefario"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "nefando"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "tags": [
        "Mexico"
      ],
      "word": "feo"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "infame"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "vicioso"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "malvado"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "inicuo"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "skändlig"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "word": "gudlös"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "nečestyvyj",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "нечестивий"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "zločynnyj",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "злочинний"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "nečesnyj",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "нечесний"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "nycyj",
      "sense": "sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "ниций"
    }
  ],
  "word": "nefarious"
}

Download raw JSONL data for nefarious meaning in English (14.9kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-11-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-10-02 using wiktextract (fbeafe8 and 7f03c9b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.