Showing Results for "diabolic"

See Also:

• a variation of diabolical.

diabolic

American  

[dahy-uh-bol-ik] / ˌdaɪ əˈbɒl ɪk /

adjective

1. variant of diabolical.

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diabolic British  

/ ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or proceeding from the devil; satanic

2. befitting a devil; extremely cruel or wicked; fiendish

3. very difficult or unpleasant

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• diabolicalness
  noun
• nondiabolic
  adjective
• diabolically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of diabolic

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English diabolik, from Middle French or directly from Late Latin diabolicus, from Greek diabolikós, equivalent to diábo(os) devil + -ikos -ic

Explanation

Use the adjective diabolic to describe someone who acts in a terribly cruel way. A diabolic boy might pick up a cat by its tail and swing it around. When people are diabolic, they're evil. The horrible dictator who has thousands of civilians killed commits a diabolic act, and people who abuse children are also diabolic. The bad guy in a fairy tale is always diabolic. You can use diabolic interchangeably with the slightly more common diabolical. Both words have a Greek root, diabolikos, which means "devilish" and comes from diabolus, or "devil."

Example Sentences

Diabolic ingenuity in invention though as old as the world is by no means a lost art. 

From Within the Tides by Conrad, Joseph

The chief centre of this detestable system is St. Vincent, where—so I was told by one who knows that island well—some sort of secret College, or School of the Prophets Diabolic, exists. 

From At Last by Kingsley, Charles

Now, to whose house should these Diabolic doubters go, but to that of Old Evil-questioning.

From Works of John Bunyan — Volume 03 by Bunyan, John

I have also hit off a few lines in the name of Burton, being a conceit of "Diabolic Possession."

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5 The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb, 1796-1820 by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)