English Explanatory Dictionary

diabolic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of, being, or pertaining to a devil or the Devil.
  2. Having qualities traditionally attributed to devils.
  3. Wicked; evil; cruel.

Pronunciation

/ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-diabolic.wav

Word forms

diabolic more diabolic most diabolic diabolick

Etymology

From Middle English diabolik, from Middle French diabolique, from Late Latin diabolicus, from Ancient Greek διαβολικός (diabolikós, “devilish”), from διάβολος (diábolos, “devil”). First attested in 1350–1400.

Synonyms

devilish mephistophelean demonic fiendish satanic unholy cacodaemoniacal daemonical demoniac demoniacal demonical demonish demonlike demonly diabolic diabolical fallen angelic fiendlike satanical inhuman maleficent baleful wicked barbarous bowelless brutal compassionless cruel despiteful fell incessive inclement inhumane malicious merciless nasty nonhumane pitiless remorseless rotten ruthless sadistic savage spiteful truculent unbenevolent unbenign unkind unmerciful unpitiful unpitying abandoned arrant bad bad apple bad seed scurrilous baneful base black-hearted

Derived words

diabolical nondiabolic

Translations

Bulgarian: дяволски Bulgarian: сатанински Czech: ďábelský Esperanto: diabla Finnish: paholaismainen Finnish: pirullinen French: diabolique German: teuflisch German: diabolisch Latvian: velnišķs Latvian: velnišķīgs Portuguese: diabólico Russian: дья́вольский Turkish: şeytanca Turkish: şeytani Ukrainian: дия́вольський
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