diabolic
/,daiə'bɔlik/ Cách viết khác : (diabolical) /,daiə'bɔlikəl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Extremely evil, cruel, or wicked; characteristic of or befitting a devil or hell: Describes something or someone that is profoundly, shockingly evil, often with a sense of supernatural malevolence.
- Showing fiendish cunning, ingenuity, or wickedness: Describes cleverness or planning that is used for profoundly evil purposes.
Usage Examples
- Describing an action or nature:
- The villain's plan was a diabolic scheme to control the world.
- The dictator was known for his diabolic cruelty towards political prisoners.
- Describing an appearance or atmosphere:
- The dark castle had a diabolic aura that frightened the villagers.
- He smiled with a diabolic grin, revealing his true intentions.
Advanced Usage
- "Diabolic" vs. "Diabolical": Both forms are adjectives and are generally interchangeable in modern usage, meaning "extremely evil." "Diabolical" is slightly more common.
- The evidence pointed to a diabolical plot.
- In a figurative or exaggerated sense: Sometimes used to describe something that is extremely difficult, annoying, or complex, though this is informal.
- The exam contained some diabolically hard questions. (Here, "diabolically" is the adverb form).
Variants and Related Words
- Diabolical (adj): The more common variant, identical in meaning to "diabolic."
- Diabolically (adv): In an extremely evil or fiendishly clever manner.
- The trap was diabolically clever.
- Diabolism (n): Worship of or belief in devils; sorcery.
- Diabolist (n): A person who practices diabolism.
Synonyms
- Fiendish: Extremely cruel or unpleasant; characteristic of a fiend.
- Demonic: Of, like, or characteristic of a demon or evil spirit.
- Satanic: Of or characteristic of Satan; supremely evil or wicked.
- Infernal: Of or relating to hell; hellish (often used for emphasis).
- Mephistophelian: Cunning, fiendish, and cynical (from the literary character Mephistopheles).
- Wicked: Evil or morally wrong.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- A diabolic/diabolical plan: An extremely evil and clever plan.
- The detective uncovered the criminal's diabolical plan.
- Diabolic/diabolical laughter: Laughter that sounds evil or menacing.
- His diabolic laughter echoed through the hall.
Adjective
- 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
- 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