diabolic

or di·a·bol·i·cal

[ dahy-uh-bol-ik or dahy-uh-bol-i-kuh l ]

/ ˌdaɪ əˈbɒl ɪk or ˌdaɪ əˈbɒl ɪ kəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR diabolic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having the qualities of a devil; devilish; fiendish; outrageously wicked: a diabolic plot.

pertaining to or actuated by a devil.

Nearby words

diabetogenous, diabetologist, diable, diablerie, diablo, diabolic, diabolical, diabolism, diabolize, diabolo, diacaustic

Origin of diabolic

1350–1400; Middle English diabolik (< Middle French) < Late Latin diabolicus < Greek diabolikós, equivalent to diábol(os) devil + -ikos -ic

Related forms

di·a·bol·i·cal·ly, adverbdi·a·bol·i·cal·ness, nounhy·per·di·a·bol·i·cal, adjectivehy·per·di·a·bol·i·cal·ly, adverb

hy·per·di·a·bol·i·cal·ness, nounnon·di·a·bol·ic, adjectivenon·di·a·bol·i·cal, adjectivenon·di·a·bol·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·di·a·bol·i·cal·ness, nounsu·per·di·a·bol·i·cal, adjectivesu·per·di·a·bol·i·cal·ly, adverbsu·per·di·a·bol·i·cal·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for diabolic

Diabolic lore la Jules Dubois and other modern magi is profuse.
Egoists|James Huneker
The piano in it is put to various uses, with a fill of glissandi matching the diabolic mood.
Franz Liszt|James Huneker
There was here nothing to support the diabolic legend with which under the suggestion of Brother Aloysius he had endowed it.
Sinister Street, vol. 2|Compton Mackenzie
Then with diabolic menace the colour changed to an inky blackness, while high above rose the edge of the pall.
The Long Dim Trail|Forrestine C. Hooker

In certain parts of Russia the Tobacco-plant is deemed a diabolic plant.
Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics|Richard Folkard

British Dictionary definitions for diabolic

diabolic

/ (ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk) /

adjective

of, relating to, or proceeding from the devil; satanic

befitting a devil; extremely cruel or wicked; fiendish

very difficult or unpleasant

Derived Forms

diabolically, adverbdiabolicalness, noun

Word Origin for diabolic

C14: from Late Latin diabolicus, from Greek diabolikos, from diabolos devil

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012