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.adjectiveB2
Definition

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

Example

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

Common collocations
  • absolutely diabolical
  • diabolical service
  • diabolical weather
  • diabolical state (of something)
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • excellent

    opposite end of the quality spectrum

  • splendid

    British English positive counterpart

Grammar Patterns

diabolical + noun

be + diabolical

describe + noun + as diabolical

Usage Note

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

Common Mistakes

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.adjectiveC1
Definition

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

Example

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)

Common collocations
  • diabolical plot
  • diabolical scheme
  • diabolical laughter
  • diabolical plan
  • diabolical villain
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • angelic

    opposite in the religious/moral spectrum

  • benevolent

    kind and generous, the opposite of evil

Grammar Patterns

diabolical + noun

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

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.

Word family

  • diabolically
    adverbC1
  • diabolic
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words express strong disapproval, but with different flavours. 'Diabolical' is the most informal and often carries a touch of British comic exaggeration — you might say the weather is 'diabolical' but not use it in a formal complaint letter. 'Appalling' is more serious and slightly more formal: an 'appalling' mistake suggests real shock, not just annoyance. 'Dreadful' is very common in British English for everyday bad experiences ('a dreadful headache'), but it is milder than 'diabolical'. 'Atrocious' sits between informal and formal: it emphasises very low quality ('atrocious handwriting'). 'Terrible' is the most general and neutral — it works in nearly any register but lacks the dramatic punch of 'diabolical'. For the strongest informal complaint, choose 'diabolical'; for a more measured or serious tone, use 'appalling'.

appallingdreadful ↗atrociousterrible ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from the Latin 'diabolicus', which itself comes from the Greek 'diabolikos' (meaning 'devilish'). The Greek root 'diaballein' originally meant 'to throw across' or 'to slander', and over time it came to refer to the Devil himself. The informal modern sense of 'extremely bad' developed in 19th-century British English as people began using the word hyperbolically.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined above