1 hellion | Definition of hellion

hellion

noun
hel·​lion | \ ˈhel-yÉ™n How to pronounce hellion (audio) \

Definition of hellion

: a troublesome or mischievous person

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Examples of hellion in a Sentence

My children can act like little hellions when they're bored. the little hellions were tearing through the house squirting their water pistols

Recent Examples on the Web

Detroit Police have a message for a band of hellions responsible for flinging scooters into the Detroit River, rolling the contraptions downhill in an attempt to knock people down and pushing a man to the ground. Micah Walker, Detroit Free Press, "Viral video shows youth tossing scooters into Detroit River, damaging property," 23 Aug. 2019 Even Dogtown skateboard legend Tony Alva, once a hellion of rebellion, has come to embrace inner peace through daily meditation (and still rips on his board at age 61). Barbara Odanaka, latimes.com, "A guide to L.A.’s best skate parks," 7 June 2019 That feels a little like the moment liberals are in right now, what with all these hot politicians stepping onto the global stage out of nowhere, some of whom may very well be nationalist hellions. Kenzie Bryant, Vanities, "Is the Hot Politician Evil?: A Parlor Game for Our Broken Era," 1 June 2018 And Emma, unlike Laura, is a hellion with little interest in order or routine. Constance Grady, Vox, "Laura and Emma is a ferociously restrained novel that turns its quietness into a weapon," 24 Apr. 2018 At 10 months, Mabel is a delicious imp, with the fair coloring of her mother and the gleeful expression of a hellion in training. Judith Newman, New York Times, "Recovery, Russell Brand Style," 16 Oct. 2017 At least Phillips has a hot newcomer in Lewis, a piano-pounding hellion with an ego as big as his sound. Robert W. Butler, kansascity, "Great balls of fire — New Theatre’s ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ strums along splendidly," 14 July 2017 And son Franklin Graham, a cigarette-smoking hellion during his teen years, delighted the crowd with anecdotes about the lengths his mother would go to get him out of bed in the morning. Tim Funk, charlotteobserver, "Nearly festive 2007 service honored Ruth Graham’s devotion to family, Christ," 16 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hellion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of hellion

1787, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for hellion

probably alteration (influenced by hell) of hallion scamp

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More Definitions for hellion

hellion

noun

English Language Learners Definition of hellion

US, informal : a person (especially a child) who behaves badly

More from Merriam-Webster on hellion

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hellion