diabolical

IPA/ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪkl/
KK[dˌaɪəbˈɑlɪkəl]IPA/ˌdaɪəˈbɑːlɪkl/

diabolical — adjective

  • diabolicalpositive
  • more diabolicalcomparative
  • most diabolicalsuperlative

1. used informally to say that something is of very poor quality or extremely unple

1.形容詞B2
釋義

used informally to say that something is of very poor quality or extremely unpleasant, often expressing strong annoyance or disappointment

例句

The weather during their camping trip was diabolical — it rained every single day without stopping.

be + diabolical, informal register

Kofi complained that the service at the hotel was diabolical and the rooms were dirty.

be + diabolical, complaint context

同義詞
  • appalling

    equally strong, slightly more formal

  • dreadful

    common in British English, similar intensity

  • atrocious

    slightly stronger, often used for behaviour or quality

  • terrible

    more general and less dramatic than diabolical

反義詞
  • excellent

    opposite end of the quality spectrum

  • splendid

    British English positive counterpart

文法句型

diabolical + noun

be + diabolical

describe + noun + as diabolical

用法筆記

This sense is very common in everyday British conversation but sounds too informal for most academic or professional writing.

常見錯誤

❌The food was diabolical delicious.
✅The food was diabolical
💡it tasted awful.' — 'diabolical' is a negative word; do not use it as an intensifier for positive things.
❌The exam was diabolically hard.' (when you mean 'extremely hard').
✅The exam was diabolical
💡I failed it.' — 'diabolically' is an adverb with a different meaning; use 'diabolical' as an adjective for the informal 'very bad' sense.

2. displaying the qualities traditionally associated with the devil; deeply evil an

2.形容詞C1
釋義

displaying the qualities traditionally associated with the devil; deeply evil and cruel, often in ways that feel superhuman or demonic

例句

Shirin's latest novel features a diabolical villain who will stop at nothing to seize power.

attributive: diabolical + noun (villain)

The old legend spoke of a diabolical curse that brought famine to the land.

attributive: diabolical + noun (curse)

同義詞
  • satanic

    more explicitly connected to the Devil in religious traditions

  • demonic

    suggests possession or influence by evil spirits

  • fiendish

    slightly less formal, can also mean 'cleverly cruel'

  • hellish

    suggests the horror of hell, more visceral

反義詞
  • angelic

    opposite in the religious/moral spectrum

  • benevolent

    kind and generous, the opposite of evil

文法句型

diabolical + noun

用法筆記

This sense is usually placed before a noun (attributive position). It often appears in religious, supernatural, or political contexts to describe extreme cruelty or wickedness that seems beyond ordinary human evil.

常見錯誤

❌That child is diabolical' (to mean 'badly behaved').
✅The villain in the story was truly diabolical.
💡In informal British English, calling a child 'diabolical' is sometimes heard but can sound exaggerated; this sense is best reserved for genuinely evil people or forces.