infernal

[in-fur-nl]

adjective

1. hellish; fiendish; diabolical.

   an infernal plot.

2. extremely troublesome, annoying, etc.; atrocious.

   an infernal nuisance.

   Synonyms: wretched, abominable, damnable, cursed, blasted, accursed

3. of, inhabiting, or befitting hell.

4. Classical Mythology.,  of or relating to the underworld.

infernal

/ ɪnˈfɜːnəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to an underworld of the dead

2. deserving hell or befitting its occupants; diabolic; fiendish

3. informal,  irritating; confounded

Other Word Forms

• infernality noun
• infernally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of infernal¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Late Latin infernālis, equivalent to Latin infern(us) “situated below, of the underworld” ( inferior ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of infernal¹

C14: from Late Latin infernālis, from infernus hell, from Latin (adj): lower, hellish; related to Latin inferus low

Example Sentences

When Davis wrote his controversial piece, he also noted that “late August to early October is the infernal season in Los Angeles.”

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Her right hand, fingers curled, rests on the infernal machine, while her left hand is open on the windowsill.

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I again pleaded with the entity that is running this infernal simulation to please stop.

Read more on Salon

A victory will be seen as a watershed event, the final flushing of Trump and his minions into the infernal swamp from which they emerged.

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But before I could do anything, there was that infernal sound from the front portal.

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Related Words

• demonic 
• devilish 
• hellish 
• malevolent 
• wicked