Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

diabolical

[ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪkəɫ]

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.96 in modern English

Syllables
di-a-bol-i-cal
IPA
[ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪkəɫ]
15
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
5
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Of or concerning the devil: devilish, satanic.

adj

Extremely wicked or cruel.

adj

(Devilishly) cunning or devious.

Slang

adj

Crazy, wild (sometimes especially due to being unexpected or surprising).

Slang

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *dwísder. Ancient Greek διά (diá) Ancient Greek δια- (dia-) Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der. Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō) Ancient Greek διαβάλλω (diabállō) Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Koine Greek διαβολικός (diabolikós)bor. Late Latin diabolicusbor. Middle French diaboliquebor. Middle English diabolik English diabolic English -al English diabolical From diabolic + -al.

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: [ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪkəɫ]
  • British English: [ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪkəɫ]

Usage

Inflected Forms

more diabolical (comparative) most diabolical (superlative)

Derived Forms

archidiabolical diabolicality diabolically diabolicalness hyperdiabolical undiabolical

Frequently Paired Words

fiendish hellborn hellish infernal Mephistophelean

Synonyms

daemonical demonic diabolic baneful malevolent malicious barbarous bowelless brutal compassionless cruel flagitious

Antonyms

angelic divine undemonic undevilish undiabolical unsatanic nondemonic nondiabolic nonsatanic

Questions

How do you pronounce diabolical?
The recorded pronunciation is [ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪkəɫ].
What does diabolical mean?
Of or concerning the devil: devilish, satanic.
Where does diabolical come from?
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *dwísder. Ancient Greek διά (diá) Ancient Greek δια- (dia-) Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der. Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō) Ancient Greek διαβάλλω (diabállō) Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Koine Greek διαβολικός (diabolikós)bor. Late Latin diabolicusbor. Middle French diaboliquebor. Middle English diabolik English diabolic English -al English diabolical From diabolic + -al.

How to pronounce diabolical

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “diabolical”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling ([ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪkəɫ]) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “diabolical”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “diabolical” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.