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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mephistopheles, dispatched by the Devil to serve Faustus, can’t help getting the better of his mortal master, like an infernal Jeeves—or, more to the point, like a handler in the intelligence racket, running an anxious agent in the field. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 As a brand, Annabelle’s infernal power knows no limits. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 There, the adults mate, and the mass erupts like an infernal, infectious volcano, spewing out eggs. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2025 Roughly once a week, Nick Cave blogs about music, religion, grief, and the infernal state of world affairs through the medium of fan correspondence in his Red Hand Files newsletter. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 29 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for infernal

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

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Cite this Entry

“Infernal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infernal. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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

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