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

As the film depicts with garish flair, the pugilistic, Bronx-born attorney — who first came to prominence prosecuting Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for espionage, then served as chief counsel to Sen. Joseph McCarthy during his anticommunist witch hunt — took Trump under his wing in the 1970s, handing the ambitious real-estate developer’s son a fiendish playbook for success.

From Los Angeles Times

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

On “The Chapeltown Rag,” from 2022’s “The End, So Far,” Corey Taylor still whips from bold melody to fiendish growls like few vocalists are capable of.

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

Related Words

• brutish
• nefarious