Satan

noun

Sa·​tan ˈsā-tᵊn 

1

: the angel who in Jewish belief is commanded by God to tempt humans to sin, to accuse the sinners, and to carry out God's punishment

2

: the rebellious angel who in Christian belief is the adversary of God and lord of evil

Synonyms

• archfiend
• Beelzebub
• devil
• fiend
• Lucifer
• Old Nick
• serpent

Examples of Satan in a Sentence

some people believe that Satan can successfully tempt almost anyone with lies and flattery

Recent Examples on the Web

And this even prompted former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to call Russia an enemy of the Iranian people and accuse them of caving to Satan. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 24 June 2025

Gregory Peck plays a diplomat who secretly adopts a baby who turns out to be the son of Satan. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 June 2025

America is the Great Satan, but for Iran’s proxies in Baghdad, Lebanon, and Yemen, Israel is the target. —Karl Vick, Time, 19 June 2025

Another set of gestures—waving arms and punching into the air—represent the aggressive confrontation of Satan. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek, from Hebrew śāṭān adversary

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Satan

• aten
• clayton
• statin
• straighten
• creatine

Kids Definition

Satan

noun

Sa·​tan ˈsāt-ᵊn 

: devil entry 1 sense 1

satanic

sə-ˈtan-ik

sā-

adjective

satanically

-ˈtan-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Etymology

Middle English Satan "Satan," from early French Satan (same meaning), from Latin Satan (same meaning), from Greek Satan "Satan," from Hebrew śāṭān "adversary"