diabolical
adjective
di·a·bol·i·cal
ˌdī-ə-ˈbä-li-kəl 
variants
or diabolic
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil : extremely evil
a diabolical plot
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Like the word devil, "diabolical" traces back to Latin diabolus, which itself descends from Greek diabolos, a word that literally means "slanderer." In English, "diabolical" has many nuances of meaning. It can describe the devil himself (as in "my diabolical visitor") or anything related to or characteristic of him in appearance, behavior, or thought; examples include "diabolical lore," "a diabolical grin," and "a diabolical plot." In British slang, "diabolical" can also mean "disgraceful" or "bad," as in "the food was diabolical."
Synonyms of diabolical
Examples of diabolical in a Sentence
the police quickly mobilized to track down the diabolical criminals before they struck again
Recent Examples on the Web
From perhaps the most diabolical spot on the entire course.
—
Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 20 June 2026
The diabolical reality of growth.
—Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
In this rendition, the diabolical duo of Todd and Lovett are younger, more wiry, more tightly wound and thus more dangerous.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026
Consider, for example, his approach to one of the most diabolical tasks in the show’s history, in which players were challenged to complete seven different sub-tasks without any hint of the correct order.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for diabolical
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Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 20 June 2026
The diabolical reality of growth.
—Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
In this rendition, the diabolical duo of Todd and Lovett are younger, more wiry, more tightly wound and thus more dangerous.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026
Consider, for example, his approach to one of the most diabolical tasks in the show’s history, in which players were challenged to complete seven different sub-tasks without any hint of the correct order.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for diabolical
Cite this Entry
“Diabolical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diabolical. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diabolical
adjective
di·a·bol·i·cal
ˌdī-ə-ˈbäl-i-kəl
variants
or diabolic
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil : fiendish
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