diabolical

adjective

ˌdī-ə-ˈbä-li-kəl How to pronounce diabolical (audio)
variants or diabolic
Definition of diabolicalnext
as in demonic
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit the police quickly mobilized to track down the diabolical criminals before they struck again

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 diabolical Might be nice to reconnect; might also be absolutely diabolical running into each other in the crisps aisle at Waitrose. — Lauren O’Neill, Vogue, 22 Aug. 2026 What outrages Marylanders is that this diabolical plan excludes the Preakness, devaluing it and implying the Triple Crown is irrelevant, if not dead. — Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 The late Lance Reddick is a delight in one of his final roles, as their diabolical CEO. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 The actress also had a memorable guest turn on The Vampire Diaries and reunited with Ben McKenzie for a diabolical three-episode run on Gotham. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for diabolical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diabolical
  1. demonic
  2. sinister
  3. malicious
Adjective
  • The film stars Jessica Chastain in a dual role as a mother whose daughter (Arabella Olivia Clark) is being haunted by a demonic entity.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In a world fractured by power, fear and political extremism, a group of women uncovers a demonic force operating at the highest level of society-and realizes the chaos around them may be part of a much darker design.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of demonic
Adjective
  • Grace Carroll gives a poignant performance as the Nightingale—borne aloft with arched back and trembling, outstretched hands by other dancers, who play thorns that pierce her breast—and Adam Elmes makes a seductively sinister Dorian Gray.
    — Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Clark plays the daughter of Ursula (Jessica Chastain) and Russ (Jay Duplass), a young girl terrorized by a sinister figure who looks just like her mother, known as the titular Other Mommy.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of sinister
Adjective
  • Moreover, the perpetrators do not appear to have used malicious code on the fridge controllers, potentially complicating efforts to track down who carried out the cyberattack, added Aimé.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of malicious

Browse Nearby Words

diableries
diabolical
diabolically
See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Diabolical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diabolical. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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