What is the meaning of diabolical?

Showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil.
- usage: "devilish schemes"; "the cold calculation and diabolic art of some statesmen"; "the diabolical expression on his face"; "a mephistophelian glint in his eye"
- synonyms: devilish, diabolic, mephistophelian, mephistophelean
Extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell.
- usage: "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"
- synonyms: demonic, diabolic, fiendish, hellish, infernal, satanic, unholy

|15 years ago|1.9k views|share |citing

APA	WordNet. (2010). diabolical. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/diabolical/definitions/1172366
Chicago	WordNet. 2010. "diabolical" http://smartdefine.org/diabolical/definitions/1172366 (accessed September 22, 2026).
Harvard	WordNet 2010, diabolical, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/diabolical/definitions/1172366>.
MLA	WordNet. "diabolical" 23 October 2010. Web. 22 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/diabolical/definitions/1172366>

Alternative definitions by