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Definition of hellhound

hellhound

/ˈhɛlˌhaʊnd/
hell · hound
Plural:hellhounds
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hellhound Lexical Profile

hellhound Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A supernatural, demonic dog in mythology, folklore, and fantasy fiction, typically depicted with glowing red eyes, black fur, and a connection to the underworld or the afterlife.

Example

"In Greek mythology, the three-headed Cerberus is the most famous hellhound guarding the gates of the underworld."

2

A fiendish, ruthless, or relentlessly wicked person.

Example

"The dramatist portrayed the tyrannical ruler as a merciless hellhound who delighted in the suffering of his subjects."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

helleborus
hellfire
hellhole
hellhound
hellion
hellish
hellishly

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English hellehund, a compound of hell ('the underworld') and hund ('dog, hound'), originally used in Anglo-Saxon literature to translate the classical mythological guardian Cerberus.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hellhound. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hellhound
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