infernal

adjective

in·​fer·​nal in-ˈfər-nᵊl How to pronounce infernal (audio)
1
: of or relating to a nether world of the dead
2
a
: of or relating to hell
3
: damnable
an infernal nuisance
infernally adverb

Examples of infernal in a Sentence

the infernal regions of the dead Stop making that infernal racket!
Recent Examples on the Web Christ and his angels battled for your salvation, while the Devil and his many demonic spirits sought to trick and tempt, to pull you into their infernal kingdom. James Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024 The stake, with the hooded heretic, the black man or the witch attached to it, is the burning tree and body of the infernal world. John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024 At the end of the day, Jake can’t meditate for ten seconds without having to take a leak, and Katagiri can’t do it without the infernal hum of Tokyo, in all its movement and machinations and people living and breathing and fighting and dying, bringing him back to earth. Andy Andersen, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2024 Bees, wasps, and yellowjackets—with their infernal stings—are similarly creatures of the summer. Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 24 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for infernal 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infernal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enfernal, from Late Latin infernalis, from infernus hell, from Latin, lower, from inferus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of infernal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near infernal

Cite this Entry

“Infernal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infernal. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

infernal

adjective
in·​fer·​nal in-ˈfərn-ᵊl How to pronounce infernal (audio)
1
: of or relating to hell
2
: very bad or unpleasant
an infernal nuisance
infernally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on infernal

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!