fiendish
/fi:ndiʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Extremely evil or cruel; wicked: Describes something or someone that is profoundly evil, malicious, or cruel in a way that suggests a demonic or supernatural level of wickedness.
- Devilishly clever or complex: Describes something that is extremely clever, intricate, or difficult, often in a way that is cunning or malicious.
Examples of Usage
- Describing extreme evil or cruelty:
- The villain in the story had a fiendish plan to take over the world.
- They were subjected to fiendish torture by their captors.
- Describing devilish cleverness or complexity:
- The escape room presented a series of fiendish puzzles.
- He solved the fiendish crossword in record time.
Advanced Usage
- "fiendish delight": A sense of pleasure derived from something cruel or wicked.
- She took fiendish delight in her rival's misfortune.
- "fiendish grin/smile": A smile that appears cruel, malicious, or suggestive of evil intent.
- The character flashed a fiendish grin before revealing his trap.
Variants and Related Words
- Fiendishly (adverb): In an extremely evil or clever manner.
- The problem was fiendishly difficult to solve.
- Fiend (noun): An evil spirit or demon; a very wicked or cruel person; or (informally) a person who is excessively fond of or addicted to something.
- He is a fiend for classic cars. (This informal usage is a separate meaning from "fiendish".)
Synonyms
- Diabolical: Of or like a devil; fiendish.
- Demonic: Relating to or characteristic of demons or evil spirits.
- Infernal: Relating to or characteristic of hell.
- Satanic: Extremely evil or wicked.
- Wicked: Evil or morally wrong.
- Malevolent: Having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
Antonyms
- Angelic: Of or relating to angels; exceptionally kind, pure, or beautiful.
- Benevolent: Well meaning and kindly.
- Saintly: Very holy or virtuous.
Related Phrases
- "a fiendish plot": An extremely wicked or complex plan.
- The detective uncovered the criminal's fiendish plot.
- "fiendish difficulty": Extreme and often cunning complexity.
- The final level of the game is of fiendish difficulty.
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