diabolize

especially British, di·ab·o·lise

[dahy-ab-uh-lahyz]

verb (used with object)

diabolized, diabolizing 

1. to make diabolic or devilish.

2. to represent as diabolic.

3. to subject to diabolic influences.

diabolize

/ daɪˈæbəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. 1. to make (someone or something) diabolical

   2. to subject to the influence of devils

2. to portray as diabolical

Other Word Forms

• diabolization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of diabolize¹

1695–1705; < Greek diábol ( os ) devil + -ize

Example Sentences

In a searching and prescient passage, he suggests that at the heart of the rebellion and the violence it provoked was a whole history of diabolized “blackness.”

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There were demons only, more exactly there were diabolized expressions invented to denominate natural phenomena and whatever else perturbed.

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The Greek deified nature, not being able to diabolize it; still he knew that it must be ruled and transmuted by mind.

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November 17.—A story of the effects of revenge in diabolizing him who indulges in it.

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Of course the conspiring farmers are idealized and their enemies are diabolized; but all this is so in the saga.

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