nefariousness

1 9.6

Very evil behaviour that harms other people

noun
/nəˈfɛrɪəsnəs/

Formal

: nefariedad

We find some evidence that stew's not a hairy monster, and that it's actually polexia that's behind all this nefariousness.

Examples

What nefariousness are you up to?

Marvelous and the Black Hole (2022)
So why the hell minimize one atrocity to highlight the nefariousness of another?

Blog text (1)
It's, it's the scope, complexity and nefariousness of Cox's fraud are breathtaking.
The detective uncovered the nefariousness behind the elaborate scheme that deceived so many innocent people.
Everyone was shocked by the nefariousness displayed in the plans to embezzle funds from charity organizations.
Historians debate the nefariousness of certain political leaders who engaged in activities harmful to their citizens.

Synonyms

wickedness

vsnefariousness

28 5.2

A state of being morally wrong or evil

is the intense, extreme form of that moral wrongness

depravity

vsnefariousness

Formal

25 8.8

A state of very bad moral behavior

is the high degree of wickedness rather than the corrupting process

immorality

vsnefariousness

23 6.3

Bad behavior that people see as wrong or evil

is the more intense extremely wicked form of that state

iniquity

vsnefariousness

Literature

21 9.5

Very bad or unfair actions that harm people

is the broad extreme moral wrongness, not only injustice or vice

ugliness

vsnefariousness

20 4.6

A quality of being morally bad or cruel

is the extreme and severe degree of that moral badness

villainy

vsnefariousness

16 8.1

Very bad actions that hurt other people

focuses on the general extreme moral quality rather than specific acts

enormity

vsnefariousness

Formal

9 8.9

Great evil that shocks people

is the broader quality of extreme wickedness rather than specific shocking acts

evilness

vsnefariousness

8 6.5

A quality of doing very bad things and wanting to harm people

signifies a stronger, more extreme degree of moral wrongness

malevolence

vsnefariousness

8 8.8

A feeling of wanting to harm other people

is the overall extreme wicked state rather than specifically wishing harm

vileness

vsnefariousness

2 8.0

Very bad and morally wrong behavior

is the core state of extreme moral wrongness rather than general offensiveness

maliciousness

vsnefariousness

2 7.5

A wish to hurt or make other people suffer

is the wider quality of extreme moral wrongness, not only intent to harm

foulness

vsnefariousness

1 7.9

Very bad and immoral behavior that harms other people

is the overall extreme wrongness rather than the process of corruption

wrongfulness

vsnefariousness

Formal

1 7.4

Something that is not right according to law or morals

focuses on extreme moral wrongness rather than legal or justice contrast

heinousness

vsnefariousness

Formal

1 9.5

The quality of being very evil and cruel that shocks people

is the general extreme wickedness rather than only shocking cruelty

sleaziness

vsnefariousness

Literature

1 8.1

Being dishonest and unfair in a way that harms others

is the higher intensity moral wrongness rather than mere sordidness

fiendishness

vsnefariousness

1 8.4

Very cruel and evil actions that harm people

expresses the same extreme wrongness but without the devilish cruelty focus

miscreancy

vsnefariousness

Archaic

1 9.9

Very bad actions that break the law

is the intense moral wrongness rather than merely criminal behavior

villainousness

vsnefariousness

9.2

Being very bad and cruel to other people

is the pure state of extreme moral wrongness rather than theatrical villainy

malignant nature

vsnefariousness

Specialized

9.7

A very harmful and cruel way of being that hurts other people

is the general extreme wicked quality rather than just harmful intent

balefulness

vsnefariousness

Formal

9.9

A look or feeling that seems threatening

emphasizes moral extreme wrongness rather than danger or threat

malevolency

vsnefariousness

9.8

A feeling of wanting to harm other people

is the broader state of extreme moral wrongness beyond harmful intent

Antonyms

virtue

259 3.8

A good personal quality like honesty or kindness

goodness

82 1.0

Kind, honest, and fair behaviour in a person

How Wicked

heinousness

Formal

1 9.5

nefariousness

Formal

1 9.6

wickedness

28 5.2

immorality

23 6.3

wrongdoing

117 3.7

badness

4 3.4

Surface Forms

nefariousness singular

nefariousnesses plural

Morphology

nefariousness = nefarious (transparent) = nefarious + ness

Standard nominalization of the adjective 'nefarious' with '-ness' forming the 'state or quality of being nefarious', which is directly predictable by learners.

Etymology

Nefariousness comes from the Latin parts ne- 'not' and fas 'right' or what the gods allow, so it originally meant 'not right'. The related adjective nefarious means very wicked, and that's why nefariousness names the quality of being morally wrong.