diabolise
/dai'æbəlaiz/ Cách viết khác : (diabolise) /dai'æbəlaiz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To turn into a devil or make devilish: To cause someone or something to become like a devil in nature or character; to corrupt or pervert to an evil state.
- To portray as devilish: To represent or describe someone or something as being evil or diabolical.
Usage
- The verb "diabolise" is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (e.g., to diabolise or ).
- It is used in formal or literary contexts to describe the process of making something evil or attributing extreme evil to it.
- The spelling diabolize is equally common.
Examples
- Verb:
- The propaganda sought to diabolise the opposing political leader, painting him as a monster.
- War can diabolise even the most peaceful individuals, filling them with hatred.
- The artist's work diabolised the figure of greed, depicting it as a horned demon.
Advanced Usage
- "to diabolise an idea": to characterize an idea as fundamentally evil or destructive.
- Extremist groups often diabolise secularism to rally their followers.
- Passive Voice: Often used in the passive voice to describe the state of having been made devilish.
- The innocent ritual was diabolised by fearful outsiders who misunderstood it.
Variants and Related Words
- Diabolize (verb): An alternative spelling of "diabolise".
- Diabolisation / Diabolization (noun): The act or process of diabolising.
- The diabolisation of the enemy was a key tactic in the war effort.
- Diabolic (adjective): Having the qualities of a devil; devilish, fiendish.
- He was accused of diabolic acts.
- Diabolical (adjective): Another form meaning exceedingly evil or cruel.
- It was a diabolical plan.
Synonyms
- Demonize: To represent as a demon or evil spirit; this is the most common synonym in modern usage.
- Villify: To speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.
- Corrupt: To cause to become morally depraved.
Antonyms
- Sanctify: To set apart as or declare holy.
- Idealize: To regard or represent as perfect or better than in reality.
- Humanize: To make humane, kind, or gentle.
Related Phrases and Concepts
- Moral Panic: A situation where "diabolisation" often occurs, as a person or group is portrayed as a folk devil threatening societal values.
- Othering: The process of perceiving or portraying someone as fundamentally different from and alien to oneself, which can include diabolisation.
Verb
- turn into a devil or make devilish
- Man devilized by war