fiendish

[ feen-dish ]

adjective

1. diabolically cruel and wicked.

fiendish

/ ˈfiːndɪʃ /

adjective

1. of or like a fiend
2. diabolically wicked or cruel
3. informal.
   extremely difficult or unpleasant

   a fiendish problem

Derived Forms

• ˈfiendishly, adverb
• ˈfiendishness, noun

Other Words From

• fiendish·ly adverb
• fiendish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fiendish¹

First recorded in 1520–30; fiend + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

In these scenes, it’s hard to take your eyes off the glinting McAvoy, who’s like some fiendish juggler of items both benign and dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times

The Sidemen act as hosts and executive producers, putting their inmates through fiendish challenges that can see the £1m prize pot reduced.

From BBC

Is the fiendish challenge an intrinsic feature of the Soulslike genre that emerged from these roots?

From New York Times

Coming up with songs to fit a coming-of-age story is one thing, but having to fit fiendish quiz questions into the lyrics was its own stern test.

From BBC

Saturday’s tumbleweed takeover of South Jordan is not isolated, but it’s also not a fiendish plan by the invasive Russian thistle to conquer the western United States.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• brutish
• nefarious