nefarious
nuh-FAIR-ee-uhs
/nɪˈfɛəriəs/
Wicked, impious, or criminal (typically of an action or activity).
Nefarious describes actions, plots, or schemes that are deeply wicked, underhanded, and violate moral or divine laws.
The story behind the word. Nefarious comes from the Latin 'nefarius', which is derived from 'nefas', meaning 'a crime against divine law' or 'impiety'. It is composed of 'ne-' (not) and 'fas' (divine law or right). Thus, something nefarious is not just illegal by human standards, but an offense against the gods.
Word relationships
- villainous: Villainous is more dramatic and often used in fiction, while nefarious is more formal and emphasizes the violation of moral laws.
- benevolent: Benevolent means well-meaning, kind, and actively doing good for others.
Commonly confused with
- wicked: Wicked can be used casually or playfully (e.g., 'wicked sense of humor'), whereas nefarious is always serious and implies deep, calculated evil.
Word family
- nefariously (adverb): In a wicked or criminal way.
- nefariousness (noun): The quality of being wicked or criminal.
Collocations
- nefarious plot
- nefarious activities
- nefarious scheme
- nefarious purposes
Example sentences
- "The villain's nefarious plot to disable the city's power grid was foiled by the hero." A classic adventure novel describing a villain's plot
- "The syndicate was involved in a variety of nefarious activities, including money laundering and smuggling." A report on organized crime
Memory hook
Think of 'nefarious' as 'no-fair-ious'—someone whose actions are completely unfair, wicked, and against all the rules of humanity. An offense against divine law.
When not to use
Do not use nefarious to describe a person's physical appearance; it is used to describe their actions, plans, or character.
Fun facts
- In ancient Rome, days were divided into 'dies fasti' (days when legal business could be conducted under divine law) and 'dies nefasti' (days when courts were closed and religious duties took precedence).
Related words
Explore more words
perfidious, illicit, despicable, malevolent, malfeasance, malicious
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