Definitions for diabolical
di·a·bol·i·cal

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. devilish, diabolic, diabolical, mephistophelian, mephistopheleanadjective

   showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil

   "devilish schemes"; "the cold calculation and diabolic art of some statesmen"; "the diabolical expression on his face"; "a mephistophelian glint in his eye"

2. demonic, diabolic, diabolical, fiendish, hellish, infernal, satanic, unholyadjective

   extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell

   "something demonic in him--something that could be cruel"; "fires lit up a diabolic scene"; "diabolical sorcerers under the influence of devils"; "a fiendish despot"; "hellish torture"; "infernal instruments of war"; "satanic cruelty"; "unholy grimaces"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. diabolicaladjective

   Extremely wicked or cruel.

2. diabolicaladjective

   Of or concerning the devil; satanic.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Diabolical, Diabolickadjective

   Devilish; partaking of the qualities of the devil; impious; atrocious; nefarious; pertaining to the devil.

   Etymology: from diabolus, Latin.

   This, in other beasts observ’d,
   Doubt might beget of diabolick pow’r,
   Active within, beyond the sense of brute. John Milton, Par. Lost.

   Does not the ambitious, the envious, and the revengeful man know very well, that the thirst of blood, and affectation of dominion by violence and oppression, is a most diabolical outrage upon the laws of God and Nature, and upon the common well-being of mankind? Roger L'Estrange.

   The practice of lying is a diabolical exercise, and they that use it are the devil’s children. John Ray, on the Creation.

   Damned spirits must needs be all envy, despair, and rage; and have so much of a diabolical nature in them, as to wish all men to share their misery. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. diabolical

   Diabolical generally refers to something that is extremely wicked, cruel or evil, similar to characteristics associated with the devil. It can also imply cunning or cleverness, especially in a negative context.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. Diabolicaladjective

   pertaining to the devil; resembling, or appropriate, or appropriate to, the devil; devilish; infernal; impious; atrocious; nefarious; outrageously wicked; as, a diabolic or diabolical temper or act

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce diabolical?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

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   Mark

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   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

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   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

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   Neerja

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   Zira

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   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

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   Fred

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   Tessa

   South African

How to say diabolical in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of diabolical in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of diabolical in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of diabolical in a Sentence

1. Umberto Eco:

   There is only one thing that arouses animals more than pleasure, and that is pain. Under torture you are as if under the dominion of those grasses that produce visions. Everything you have heard told, everything you have read returns to your mind, as if you were being transported, not toward heaven, but toward hell. Under torture you say not only what the inquisitor wants, but also what you imagine might please him, because a bond (this, truly, diabolical) is established between you and him.

2. Andrei Kolesnikov:

   Putin needs military effectiveness at any cost, there is a negative diabolical charisma in [Prigozhin], and in a sense this charisma can compete with Putin’s. Putin now needs him in this capacity, in this form.

3. A. E. Housman:

   In every American there is an air of incorrigible innocence, which seems to conceal a diabolical cunning.

4. Candace Rondeaux:

   One tends to think that Putin is this diabolical man who controls all the things inside and outside of the Kremlin. That’s kind of true. He definitely has a lot of power over state agencies. He has a lot of power over business enterprises throughout the country and therefore the wealth of the country, but there’s something deeper here. Russia’s oligarchy, its mafia class and its security class have started to fuse to the point where you cannot untangle them from each other and they need each other.

5. C. C. Colton:

   There is a diabolical trio existing in the natural man, implacable, inextinguishable, co-operative and consentaneous, pride, envy, and hate; pride that makes us fancy we deserve all the goods that others possess; envy that some should be admired while we are overlooked; and hate, because all that is bestowed on others, diminishes the sum we think due to ourselves.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=diabolical
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Diabolical
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=diabolical
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diabolical
6. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=diabolical