nefarious
- Wicked, criminal, or villainous in nature or character.
In a sentence
- The detective uncovered the gang's nefarious scheme to defraud elderly victims.
- The villain's nefarious plot was finally exposed by a courageous journalist.
Usage note. Usage note: 'nefarious' is stronger than simply 'bad'—it implies deliberate, flagrant wickedness, often with a theatrical or literary flavor. Do not use it for minor misdeeds.
Where it comes from
English nefarious — “criminal, villainous” · entered English 17th c.
From Latin 'nefarius', meaning 'wicked, impious', derived from 'nefas' (crime, sin, sacrilege), composed of 'ne-' (not) and 'fas' (divine law, what is right). Entered English in the 17th century. Source: Merriam-Webster, Etymonline.