infernal
Americanadjective
-
hellish; fiendish; diabolical.
an infernal plot.
-
extremely troublesome, annoying, etc.; atrocious.
an infernal nuisance.
-
of, inhabiting, or befitting hell.
-
Classical Mythology. of or relating to the underworld.
adjective
-
of or relating to an underworld of the dead
-
deserving hell or befitting its occupants; diabolic; fiendish
-
informal irritating; confounded
Other Word Forms
- infernality noun
- infernally adverb
Etymology
Origin of infernal
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Late Latin infernālis, equivalent to Latin infern(us) “situated below, of the underworld” ( see inferior) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Things that come from Hell, or seem like they do, are infernal. If your father tells you to stop listening to that infernal music, he thinks your tunes are hellish on the ears. The word infernal comes from infernus, the Latin word for underground. A related word is inferno which means a really big fire, the kind that you might find in Hell. Although it might be used to describe something really hot or something evil, infernal is usually used when someone is complaining about something they really don't like such as the infernal dog next door that keeps barking.
Vocabulary lists containing infernal
A Christmas Carol
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Term-ometer: Synonyms for "Hot"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Sharabi’s time in the tunnels—440 days—is infernal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025
I again pleaded with the entity that is running this infernal simulation to please stop.
From Salon • Nov. 12, 2024
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 • Mar. 22, 2024
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 • Dec. 19, 2023
“What is wrong with this infernal machine? And now another interruption! Where is that voice coming from?”
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
