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Like the word devil, "diabolical" traces back to Latin diabolus, which itself descends from Greek diabolos, a word that literally means "slanderer." In English, "diabolical" has many nuances of meaning. It can describe the devil himself (as in "my diabolical visitor") or anything related to or characteristic of him in appearance, behavior, or thought; examples include "diabolical lore," "a diabolical grin," and "a diabolical plot." In British slang, "diabolical" can also mean "disgraceful" or "bad," as in "the food was diabolical."
Examples of diabolical in a Sentence
Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Gabriel Macht doesn’t miss a beat, and the charisma chasm between the two men is diabolical.
—Ayan Artan, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025
Stanley Tucci plays chief villain Ethan Skate, the man behind Christopher's disappearance whose plans are far more diabolical than Michelle ever imagined.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Mar. 2025
This Jordan Brand ad that dropped before Luka Dončić took on the Mavs last night was brilliant and diabolical.
—Zach Harper, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Diabolical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diabolical. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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diabolical
adjective
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