variants
also demonical
as in sinister
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit
the villain in the movie cackled with demonic laughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of demonic
Into the mix for our podcasters are children’s nursery rhymes, playing them backwards, and getting unsettling demonic messages, which Tuason throws in with the continuing plotline of this couple’s pending terror.
—
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026
The moral fulcrum of Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, in which a scholar gains knowledge and power through a demonic pact, is a relatively straightforward statement on the human condition.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
The radical left says Western civilization is evil, Candace Owens says the roots of our faith are demonic.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Like Dostoyevsky, Capote doesn’t portray his killers as demonic ciphers, instead capturing their messy complexity.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for demonic
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026
The moral fulcrum of Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, in which a scholar gains knowledge and power through a demonic pact, is a relatively straightforward statement on the human condition.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
The radical left says Western civilization is evil, Candace Owens says the roots of our faith are demonic.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Like Dostoyevsky, Capote doesn’t portray his killers as demonic ciphers, instead capturing their messy complexity.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for demonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demonic
Adjective
-
One of them has fashioned a sinister balaclava out of his cap and neck gaiter.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
-
While the visual effect can be startling, there is nothing sinister at play.—
Ahmad Bajjey,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Our teen protagonist Spike (Alfie Williams) has ditched the self-sufficient survivor community on an island off the coast of Northumberland, England, only to find himself at the behest of Sir Jimmy’s satanic appetite for torture.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Jan. 2026
-
On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Their faltering attempt at a total crackdown—which can’t muzzle the anger and bravery of ordinary people—and its general odor of malicious incompetence, is even seeping into the White House’s hermetic media echo chamber.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Just like the ClickFix attacks, this malicious trickery is all about running commands that almost all users would never think to do in normal circumstances.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
My deep cynicism thinks this was a diabolical plan to herd young people toward expensive, and somewhat useless, college degrees.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Weisz gives two of her best performances — aggressive and sinister here, meek and contemplative there — to craft a diabolical portrait of primal codependency.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demonic. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
