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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
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 25 July 2025
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Those beloved intergalactic heroes are back for a mission to save one of their own and deal with a diabolical new threat.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 July 2025
While Buffy made the actress a TV star, Gellar’s movie career boomed as well, from her diabolical turn in Cruel Intentions (1999) to her colorful Daphne in Scooby-Doo (2000) and its sequel.
—EW.com, 20 July 2025
Boyd appeared only in episodes two and three of Season 5, but his diabolical actions made a lasting impact on the entire season.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Diabolical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diabolical. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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diabolical
adjective
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