01 a. Pertaining to the devil; resembling, or appropriate, or appropriate to, the devil; befitting hell or satan; devilish; infernal; impious; as…
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1.
Pertaining to the devil; resembling, or appropriate, or appropriate to, the devil; befitting hell or satan; devilish; infernal; impious; as, a diabolic or diabolical temper or act; the diabolical expression on his face; fires lit up a diabolic scene.
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2.
showing a wicked cunning or ingenuity; as, the cold calculation and diabolic art of some statesmen.
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3.
extremely evil or cruel; atrocious; outrageously wicked; as, diabolical sorcerers under the influence of devils; diabolical torturers taking pleasure in their craft.
Syn.
devilish, mephistophelian, mephistophelean. — Syn. -- devilish, mephistophelian, mephistophelean. — Syn. -- demonic, fiendish, hellish, infernal, nefarious, satanic.