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Word of the Day
nefarious
adjective
Wicked, villainous, or criminal; typically of an action or activity.
Intermediate - Known to most educated speakers
Etymology
From Latin nefarius "wicked, abominable," from nefas "crime, wrong, impiety," from ne- "not" + fas "divine law, right."
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The villain hatched a nefarious plot."
- 2.
"Nefarious activities funded the criminal organization."
- 3.
"His nefarious schemes were eventually exposed."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
wickedvillainousevilcriminalsinister
Related Words
heinousvilebaseiniquitous
Fun Fact
Nefarious originally meant specifically "impious" or "against divine law" (ne-fas). The word has become a favorite for describing villains in fiction, giving it an almost theatrical quality.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 9 letters (N, E, F, A, R, I, O, U, S)
Scrabble Value: 12 points
Tip: Words ending in "US" are often good scoring opportunities.
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