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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 /
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adjective

having the qualities of a devil; devilish; fiendish; outrageously wicked: a diabolic plot.
pertaining to or actuated by a devil.

RELATED WORDS

atrocious, cruel, damnable, demonic, devilish, hellish, impious, infernal, monstrous, nasty, nefarious, satanic, serpentine, shocking, unhallowed, unpleasant, vicious, vile, villainous, wicked

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

Examples from the Web for diabolic

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 Formsdiabolically, 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

Word Origin and History for diabolic

diabolic

adj.

late 14c., from Old French diabolique (13c.), from Late Latin diabolicus, from Ecclesiastical Greek diabolikos "devilish," from diabolos (see devil (n.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper