diabolical
pronunciation
How to pronounce diabolical in British English:
UK [ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪkl]
How to pronounce diabolical in American English:
US [ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪkl]
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- Adjective:
- showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil
- extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell
Word Origin
- diabolical
- diabolical: see devil
- diabolical (adj.)
- c. 1500, "pertaining to the devil," from diabolic + -al (1). Meaning "befitting the devil" is from 1540s. Related: Diabolically.
Example
- 1. Making a psychic prediction or using magic ( or even claiming or pretending to do so ) are seen as invoking diabolical forces .
- 2. He maintained that the hearings were part of a " diabolical plot " being controlled from moscow .
- 3. Mr. berlusconi can be pretty diabolical , but satan 's style is something else .
- 4. There are no ruthless men with guns , no diabolical lawyers , no serial murderers .