demon
- Noun:
- An evil supernatural being; a devil or fiend: A demon is traditionally understood as a malevolent spirit, often associated with evil, temptation, or possession in religious and mythological contexts.
- A cruel, wicked, or inhuman person: This meaning describes a person who is considered extremely evil, vicious, or brutal in their actions or character.
- Someone extremely diligent, skillful, or energetic: Used informally to describe a person who shows fierce intensity, great skill, or tireless energy in a particular activity.
As an evil supernatural being:
- The ancient tale spoke of a demon that haunted the forest.
- In some beliefs, a demon can possess a human being.
As a cruel or wicked person:
- The dictator was a demon to his own people.
- He can be a real demon when he's angry.
As a person showing extreme skill or energy:
- She is a demon on the tennis court, never missing a shot.
- He's a demon for details, checking every single line of the report.
"To work like a demon": To work with intense, tireless energy and determination.
- She worked like a demon to meet the deadline.
"The demon of [something]": A metaphorical way to describe a powerful, often destructive, driving force or obsession.
- He was haunted by the demon of jealousy.
- The demon of addiction controlled his life.
Demonic (adj): Pertaining to, resembling, or characteristic of a demon; fiendish or fiercely energetic.
- He was driven by a demonic rage.
- She has a demonic work ethic.
Daemon (n): An alternative spelling, often used in computing to refer to a background process, or in classical mythology to refer to a lesser deity or guiding spirit (not necessarily evil).
- Fiend: An evil spirit or a very wicked or cruel person.
- Devil: A powerful evil being; often used interchangeably with demon.
- Workaholic: (For the "energetic" sense) A person who compulsively works hard and long hours.
Demonize (verb): To portray as wicked, evil, or threatening.
- Politicians often try to demonize their opponents.
Demon hunter (noun phrase): A character, especially in fiction, who specializes in finding and destroying demons.
A demon for punishment: Someone who persists in a difficult or unpleasant task with stubborn energy.
- He's a real demon for punishment, running ten miles in the rain.
To have a demon: To be driven or obsessed by a particular negative force or habit.
- He has a demon when it comes to gambling.
- someone extremely diligent or skillful
- he worked like a demon to finish the job on time
- she's a demon at math
- a cruel wicked and inhuman person
- an evil supernatural being