Dictionary

demoniacal en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌdiːməˈnaɪəkəl/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Latin daemoniacus + -al.

Meanings

1. Pertaining to, characteristic of, or produced by a demon or evil spirit; devilish, demonic, fiendish.
   • The spectator feels almost persuaded that he is witnessing some unearthly demoniacal orgie. 1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 72:
   • They knew what it meant; even Joan had heard the cry of the lone wolf hunting in the lean time of winter, and of all things sad, all things lonely, all things demoniacal, the howl of a wolf stands alone. 1921, Max Brand [pseudonym; Frederick Schiller Faust], “Equal Payment”, in The Seventh Man, New York, N.Y.; London: G[eorge] P[almer] Putnam’s Sons; The Knickerbocker Press, →OCLC, page 100:
   • Rebecca laughed in her face, with a horrid sarcastic demoniacal laughter, that almost sent the schoolmistress into fits. 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, “In which Miss Sharp and Miss Sedley Prepare to Open the Campaign”, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 13:
   • 'What do you think of that, Job?' I asked of our retainer, who was sitting on the edge of the boat, trying to get as much sunshine as possible, and generally looking uncommonly wretched, and I pointed to the fiery and demoniacal head. 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, “The Head of the Ethiopian”, in She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC, page 59:
   • sarcastic, demoniacal laughter

Forms

Deriveds

demoniacally · pandemoniacal

Synonyms

fiendlike · satanic · fallen angelic · demonish · daemonical · demoniac · demonly · cacodaemoniacal · daemonical · fiendlike · devilish · demonic · demonical · diabolic · satanical · demoniacal · demonlike · diabolical · diabolic