infernal
Americanadjective
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hellish; fiendish; diabolical.
an infernal plot.
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extremely troublesome, annoying, etc.; atrocious.
an infernal nuisance.
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of, inhabiting, or befitting hell.
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Classical Mythology. of or relating to the underworld.
adjective
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of or relating to an underworld of the dead
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deserving hell or befitting its occupants; diabolic; fiendish
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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” ( inferior ) + -ālis -al 1
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.
In “The Getaway”—filmed twice for the big screen—Doc and Carol McCoy conclude their escape hiding in caves, then a hut made of dung, before they end up in the infernal domain of El Rey.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
When Davis wrote his controversial piece, he also noted that “late August to early October is the infernal season in Los Angeles.”
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025
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
We were coming closer and closer to the pit, from which an infernal heat was rising.
From "Night" by Elie Wiesel
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.
