Dictionary

hellhole en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈhɛlˌhoʊl/ (General-American)

Etymology

First recorded in 1866.

Meanings

1. (derogatory, idiomatic, slang) A place of intense hatred, misery, or turmoil.
   • Despite prolonged exposure to harsh conditions, medics say Nora Tallis returned to the Nexus in stable condition. In a statement to HNS, Tallis did not mince words. "Never send me to that hellhole again." 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: ELAADEN (HNS) - Nora Tallis Found Alive:
   • Indeed, we happily condemn damaged children—at enormous expense—to hellholes like Feltham, where they are more likely to be assaulted or killed than to find an escape from the revolving doors of courts, prisons and addiction. 2020 July 23, Chris Daw, “'A stain on national life': why are we locking up so many children?'”, in The Guardian:
   • Once the Old Nichol had been razed, the search was on for London's new hell hole. 2015, Ed Glinert, East End Chronicles, Penguin UK, →ISBN:

Forms

Translations (6)

ja 魔境 (place of intense misery) · cs peklo na zemi (place of intense misery) · cs špinavá díra (place of intense misery) · cs brloh (place of intense misery) · de Dreckloch (place of intense misery) · nb helvete (place of intense misery)