the hell
noun
informal + impolite
1
—used to make a statement or question more forceful
Let's get the hell out of here.
(chiefly US) They moved way the hell up north.
What the hell is going on?
2
—used to say in an angry and forceful way that one will not do something, does not agree, etc.
"It's your fault!" "The hell it is!"
Examples of the hell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Who the hell were these people?
—
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2025
Who the hell wants to sleep with these people watching?
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Get a co-parenting app and tell her mother to butt the hell out.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Some people, some husbands, might say, 'What the hell is that?
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the hell
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.
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2025
Who the hell wants to sleep with these people watching?
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Get a co-parenting app and tell her mother to butt the hell out.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Some people, some husbands, might say, 'What the hell is that?
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the hell
Cite this Entry
“The hell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20hell. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share