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demoniacally

demoniacally

9.8
In a wild, frenzied way as if possessed by an evil spirit
  • adverb
  • /dɪˈmoʊniˌækli/
  • Archaic
translation icon : demoníacamente
  • The child laughed demoniacally as he ran through the haunted house, startling everyone around him.

Examples

  • As the thunderstorm raged on, the wind howled demoniacally, making the night feel more frightening.

  • Mudcatt was grinning demoniacally.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • She danced demoniacally, her movements wild and chaotic, drawing everyone’s attention at the party.

Synonyms

maniacally
vsdemoniacally
8 7.9

In a very wild and excited way without control

adds an impression of evil or supernatural possession to that frenzy
like a demon
vsdemoniacally
4 7.4

To do something with great energy and effort

carries similar force but also suggests violent, frenzied possession
manically
vsdemoniacally
2 7.2

With very high energy and little control

adds a violent, possessed quality rather than mere high energy
hellishly
vsdemoniacally
2 8.8

In a very intense and unpleasant way

has the same harsh intensity but feels more like possession
frenetically
vsdemoniacally
1 7.0

Very quickly and in a worried or excited way

conveys similar haste but with violent, uncontrolled frenzy
dementedly
vsdemoniacally
  • Offensive
1 8.9

In a wild way as if not thinking clearly

focuses less on illness and more on violent, demonic agitation
demonically
vsdemoniacally
  • Literature
1 8.2

In a way that seems evil, wild, and frightening

is more about violent frenzy and frantic physical agitation
frenziedly
vsdemoniacally
7.5

In a wild, panicked way

adds a sense of evil possession to that same violent agitation
like all possessed
vsdemoniacally
  • Informal
9.6

With very strong, uncontrolled energy and effort

implies the same drive but with a sinister or demonic quality
ragingly
vsdemoniacally
7.0

In a very strong, angry, or violent way

adds a frenzied, violently agitated sense beyond mere fury
tempestuously
vsdemoniacally
8.1

In a strong, emotional, and wild way

leans more toward violent, possessed frenzy than general turbulence

Antonyms

110 1.0

In a calm, steady way without showing anger or nervousness

How Frenzied

demoniacally
  • Archaic
9.8
frantically
59 4.4
wildly
104 2.9
restlessly
7 3.7
uneasily
19 4.2
calmly
110 1.0

Surface Forms

demoniacally positive

Morphology

demoniacally = demoniac (semi-transparent) = demon + iac + ally

The transformation from 'demoniac' to 'demoniacally' is clear, but the specific adverbial meaning requires understanding of 'demoniac'.

Etymology

The word demoniacally comes from demon, a word from old Greek for 'spirit' that later came to mean an 'evil spirit'. So to act demoniacally is to behave as if 'possessed' by that spirit, which is why the word describes very wild, frenzied, or violent behavior.