DIABOLIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does diabolic mean? 

• DIABOLIC (adjective)
  The adjective DIABOLIC has 2 senses:

1. showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil

2. extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell

  Familiarity information: DIABOLIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DIABOLIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil

Synonyms:

devilish; diabolic; diabolical; mephistophelean; mephistophelian

Context example:

a mephistophelian glint in his eye

Similar:

evil (morally bad or wrong)

Derivation:

devil (a rowdy or mischievous person (usually a young man))

devil (a cruel wicked and inhuman person)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell

Synonyms:

demonic; diabolic; diabolical; fiendish; hellish; infernal; satanic; unholy

Context example:

unholy grimaces

Similar:

evil (morally bad or wrong)

Derivation:

devil (a cruel wicked and inhuman person)

 Context examples 

All this without that diabolic aid which is surely to him; for it have to yield to the powers that come from, and are, symbolic of good.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Leach and Johnson were the two particular victims of Wolf Larsen’s diabolic temper, and the look of profound melancholy which had settled on Johnson’s face and in his eyes made my heart bleed.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)