adjective
-
excruciatingly bad; outrageous
-
(intensifier)
a diabolical liberty
Other Word Forms
- diabolically adverb
- diabolicalness noun
- hyperdiabolical adjective
- hyperdiabolically adverb
- hyperdiabolicalness noun
- nondiabolical adjective
- nondiabolically adverb
- nondiabolicalness noun
- superdiabolical adjective
- superdiabolically adverb
- superdiabolicalness noun
Etymology
Origin of diabolical
First recorded in 1500–10; from Late Latin diabolicus ( diabolic ( def. ) ) + -al 1 ( def. )
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.
Later, John and Paul attempt diabolical accents while relating the story of Count Balder and Felpin Mansions, “the eccentric son of Baron Landsberg, the inventor of the rack,” including a variety of sound effects.
From Salon
Why it’s vital: Never underestimate the power of seeing an intelligent, moral character triumph in the face of overwhelming challenges brought on by diabolical forces.
From Salon
"In the midst of the fear of my grandmother's health and well-being this was diabolical, this was shambolic, that the first person to contact me was describing this as a 'wee incident'."
From BBC
And the conversation turned back to the dating scene, which Jones correctly told Hostin “is not bleak. It’s diabolical.”
From Los Angeles Times
"It's a diabolical situation that consumers find themselves in and especially at a really important time of year for families and for businesses," Mr Walker said.
From BBC
Definitions 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.
