nefarious Synonyms & Antonyms
Choose a meaning, then find a word that fits your sentence.
Nefarious as an Adjective
Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics.
Aliens have a nefarious connotation in many science fiction books.
Nefarious in a Sentence
Aliens have a nefarious connotation in many science fiction books.
Word Forms & Grammar
nefarious (comparative more nefarious, superlative most nefarious)
Words That Rhyme With Nefarious
Origin of Nefarious
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 (“to speak, to say”) and cognate to Ancient Greek φημί (phēmí, “to say”).
Nefarious at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /nɪˈfɛəɹi.əs/ |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Meaning | Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics |
| Comparative / superlative | more nefarious, most nefarious |
How Do You Say Nefarious?
You say nefarious as /nɪˈfɛəɹi.əs/. It has 3 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (fɛəɹi).