Word a Day
nefarious
What does nefarious mean?
nefarious (adjective): sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce nefarious?
/nəˈfɛɹiəs/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does nefarious come from?
From Latin nefārius (“execrable, abominable”), from nefās (“something contrary to divine law, an impious deed, sin, crime”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “nefarious”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “nefarious” mean?
tastelessly gaudy; superficially attractive but having in reality no value or substance; falsely alluring
Not quite: that's what meretricious means.
idiotic or unthinkable, often to the point of being funny; amusing by being plainly incongruous or absurd
Not quite: that's what ludicrous means.
sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics
Right! That's what “nefarious” means.
breaching the established standards of conduct or behavior within a particular organization or profession
Not quite: that's what unethical means.
Learn a word like “nefarious” every day
Word a Day for iPhone quizzes you on a few new words a day and brings each one back for review at growing intervals. Free, no account, no ads.
Coming soon to the App Store