infernal
Americanadjective
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hellish; fiendish; diabolical.
an infernal plot.
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extremely troublesome, annoying, etc.; atrocious.
an infernal nuisance.
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of, inhabiting, or befitting hell.
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Classical Mythology. of or relating to the underworld.
adjective
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of or relating to an underworld of the dead
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deserving hell or befitting its occupants; diabolic; fiendish
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informal irritating; confounded
Other Word Forms
- infernality noun
- infernally adverb
Etymology
Origin of infernal
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
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.
“I must think of something, anything, to keep my mind off this infernal waiting!”
From Literature
Writers called the trees “grotesque,” “infernal” and “uncouth.”
From Los Angeles Times
When Davis wrote his controversial piece, he also noted that “late August to early October is the infernal season in Los Angeles.”
From Los Angeles Times
Her right hand, fingers curled, rests on the infernal machine, while her left hand is open on the windowsill.
From Los Angeles Times
I again pleaded with the entity that is running this infernal simulation to please stop.
From Salon
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.
