diabolical

Everyday

1. Very wicked or cruel, as if done by the Devil, as in «a diabolical plan». tree →
2. (UK, informal) Extremely bad or of very poor quality, as in «The traffic was diabolical». tree →

In the lessons

In stories villains have «diabolical plots» and «diabolical laughs»; the word shows evil cleverness. In everyday British talk, adults use it to complain: «That refereeing was diabolical». It comes from «diabolos», Greek for devil.

Examples

• The villain revealed his diabolical plan to flood the city. tree →
• The weather on our holiday was diabolical. tree →
• That's a diabolical penalty decision! tree →
• The witch gave a diabolical cackle. tree →
• My handwriting was diabolical when I was in a hurry. tree →
• The trap was diabolically clever. tree →

Note

Said «dye-uh-BOL-ik-ul». The informal «very bad» sense is mainly British. Related: «devil», «diabolic».