adjective
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excruciatingly bad; outrageous
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(intensifier)
a diabolical liberty
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of diabolical
First recorded in 1500–10; from Late Latin diabolicus ( see diabolic ( def. )) + -al 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Diabolical means "evil." This is a strong word. Too much math homework might seem unfair, but it probably isn't diabolical. Diabolical is related to the Spanish word diablo, which means "devil." In many religions and mythologies, you can't get any more evil than a devil, so diabolical is a powerful term, stronger than even despicable, which is another strong word for things that are hateful. Diabolical things are also intentional. If you got hit by lightning, that's awful and harmful, but it's not diabolical. If someone deliberately runs you over with a car, that's much more diabolical.
Vocabulary lists containing diabolical
Persepolis
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
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Similes from Top AP English Exam Novels
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the scene, set just before the events of 2002’s “Resident Evil,” executives at the diabolical Umbrella Corporation gather to discuss the world’s impending end.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
That’s when UConn coach Dan Hurley dialed up “Twelve On,” a diabolical full-court trap that would make or break his entire season.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026
The diabolical move from Riley would pay off.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2025
She said: "We've seen the worst care homes - diabolical homes - and they're not inspected for two or three years."
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2025
There was a sinister and unlikely coincidence exposed that was too diabolical in implication to be anything less than the most hideous of omens.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
