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.
On Wednesday, New York HUT levels were up nearly 10% compared to the previous week, when the air didn’t feel (and smell) like some sort of infernal fish chowder. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 June 2025 Climbing 18,000 feet, through knee-deep snow in some years, and descending more than 23,000 feet into infernal canyons with temps bubbling up to 120 degrees, WSER isn’t a feat for mere mortals. Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 25 June 2025 An infernal barrage of blazes continues to ravage the Los Angeles metropolitan region, where the death toll has now risen to at least 10 individuals. Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025 The damaged reactor cores continue to glow with infernal heat, so plant employees must keep spraying them with water to cool them and prevent another meltdown. IEEE Spectrum, 28 Feb. 2014 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 10 Jul. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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