Hell

often Hell The abode of condemned souls and devils in some religions; the place of eternal punishment for the wicked after death, presided over by Satan. A state of separation from God; exclusion from God's presence. The abode of the dead, identified with the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades; the underworld. A situation or place of evil, misery, discord, or destruction: “War is hell” (William Tecumseh Sherman). Torment; anguish: went through hell on the job. The powers of darkness and evil. Informal. One that causes trouble, agony, or annoyance: The boss is hell when a job is poorly done. A sharp scolding: gave the student hell for cheating. Informal. Excitement, mischievousness, or high spirits: We did it for the sheer hell of it. A tailor's receptacle for discarded material. Printing. A hellbox. Informal. Used as an intensive: How the hell can I go? You did one hell of a job. Archaic. A gambling house.