infernal

[ in-fur-nl ]

adjective

1. hellish; fiendish; diabolical:

   an infernal plot.

2. extremely troublesome, annoying, etc.; atrocious:

   an infernal nuisance.

   Synonyms: wretched, abominable, damnable, cursed, blasted, accursed

3. of, inhabiting, or befitting hell.
4. Classical Mythology. of or relating to the underworld.

infernal

/ ɪnˈfɜːnəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to an underworld of the dead
2. deserving hell or befitting its occupants; diabolic; fiendish
3. informal.
   irritating; confounded

Derived Forms

• inˈfernally, adverb
• ˌinferˈnality, noun

Other Words From

• infer·nali·ty noun
• in·fernal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of infernal¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Late Latin infernālis, equivalent to Latin infern(us) “situated below, of the underworld” ( inferior ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of infernal¹

C14: from Late Latin infernālis, from infernus hell, from Latin (adj): lower, hellish; related to Latin inferus low

Example Sentences

I again pleaded with the entity that is running this infernal simulation to please stop.

From Salon

A victory will be seen as a watershed event, the final flushing of Trump and his minions into the infernal swamp from which they emerged.

From Salon

Though I feared the button’s infernal noise would summon the Humans, I jumped up and struck it a second time.

From Literature

Its three suns move and align in such a way as to create regular but random apocalyptic events, from infernal heat to sudden ice ages to gravitational vortexes, that destroy the civilization again and again.

From New York Times

For now, all scientists can do is monitor the infernal proceedings—and hope that their observations will, eventually, reveal the secrets behind this novel show of volcanic force.

From National Geographic

Related Words

• demonic
• devilish
• hellish
• malevolent
• wicked