# nefarious

> English word · Adjective · IPA /nɪˈfɛəɹi.əs/ · frequency rank #29,010

## Definitions
1. Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics.

## Etymology
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”).

## Common misspellings (12)
`enfarious`, `neafrious`, `nefairous`, `nefariosu`, `nefariouss`, `nefariuos`, `nefaroius`, `nefarrious`, `neffarious`, `nefraious`, `nfearious`, `nnefarious`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/nefarious