Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to or characteristic of hell or the underworld: Pertaining to the realm of the dead or the place of punishment in some beliefs.
   • Extremely evil, cruel, or fiendish: Suggesting or befitting hell in its nature; diabolical.
   • Used for emphasis, often to express annoyance: A mild expletive used informally to intensify a description, conveying frustration or strong disapproval.
   • Resembling or suggesting hell in atmosphere or quality: Unpleasantly chaotic, noisy, or unbearable.

2. Noun:

   • An inhabitant of hell; a demon: A being believed to reside in the infernal regions.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The legend spoke of an infernal creature guarding the gates of the underworld.
  • The dictator was known for his infernal cruelty towards his own people.
  • This infernal computer keeps crashing!
  • The battlefield was a scene of infernal noise and confusion.

• Noun:

  • In the epic poem, the hero descended to confront the infernals.

Advanced Usage

• "infernal regions": A euphemistic or literary term for hell.

  • The myth describes a journey to the infernal regions to retrieve a lost soul.

• "infernal machine": A historical or literary term for a malicious contraption or explosive device, such as a bomb.

  • The anarchist plot involved planting an infernal machine.

Variants and Related Words

• Infernally (adverb): In an infernal manner; used for emphasis meaning "extremely."

  • It was an infernally complicated puzzle.

• Inferno (noun): A large, uncontrollable fire that is hell-like in intensity; often used figuratively.

  • The factory was engulfed in an inferno.

Synonyms

• Adjective (evil): Diabolical, fiendish, hellish, satanic, demonic, unholy.
• Adjective (annoying): Damned, blasted, confounded, wretched.
• Noun: Demon, fiend, hellion.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Heavenly, angelic, divine, blessed, serene.

Related Phrases

• Infernal triangle: A difficult, three-party conflict or love triangle (a more literary or specific usage).
• From the infernal to the celestial: Moving from a hellish state to a heavenly one (a figurative expression).

Adjective

1. being of the underworld
   • infernal regions
2. of or pertaining to or characteristic of a very uncontrolled and intense fire
   • infernal heat
3. expletives used informally as intensifiers
   • he's a blasted idiot
   • it's a blamed shame
   • a blame cold winter
   • not a blessed dime
   • I'll be damned (or blessed or darned or goddamned) if I'll do any such thing
   • he's a damn (or goddam or goddamned) fool
   • a deuced idiot
   • an infernal nuisance
4. 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
5. characteristic of or resembling Hell
   • infernal noise
   • infernal punishment

Noun

1. an inhabitant of Hell
   • his roar made the infernals quake