hell-raiser

noun

hell-rais·​er ˈhel-ˌrā-zər How to pronounce hell-raiser (audio)
: one given to wild, boisterous, or intemperate behavior
hell-raising
ˈhel-ˌrā-ziŋ How to pronounce hell-raiser (audio)
noun or adjective

Examples of hell-raiser in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But our dad was a notorious hell-raiser through high school, so the bar industry fit him to a T. — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hell-raiser was in 1882

Rhymes for hell-raiser

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Browse Nearby Words

hell or high water
hell-raiser
hell-roaring
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hell-raiser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hell-raiser. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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