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Like the word devil, "diabolical" traces back to Latin diabolus, which itself descends from Greek diabolos, a word that literally means "slanderer." In English, "diabolical" has many nuances of meaning. It can describe the devil himself (as in "my diabolical visitor") or anything related to or characteristic of him in appearance, behavior, or thought; examples include "diabolical lore," "a diabolical grin," and "a diabolical plot." In British slang, "diabolical" can also mean "disgraceful" or "bad," as in "the food was diabolical."
Examples of diabolical in a Sentence
Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
There has never been such a diabolical assault on democracy in Florida.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2025
With a basketball in hand, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell delivered a diabolical blow to NBA fans still reeling from the loss of their former franchise.
—Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025
Jon Gries absolutely deserves the millions of gasps his unannounced return, as the late Tanya McQuoid’s (Jennifer Coolidge) diabolical widower Greg Hunt, on Sunday surely evoked.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Diabolical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diabolical. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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diabolical
adjective
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