Skip to main content
fiendish

fiendish

10 7.9
Being very cruel and evil and making others suffer
  • adjective
  • /ˈfiːndɪʃ/
translation icon : diabólico
  • The minds of Scotland Yard were baffled as the murders continued, each more fiendish than the last.
  • fiendish plan
  • fiendish grin
  • fiendish laughter

Yet to feel envy is human, but to indulge in such malicious joy is fiendish and diabolical.

Examples

  • "The beans are history," he said, with a subsequent, fiendish laugh.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • "This crime is the most fiendish, cold-blooded, inexcusable case... the world has ever known. "

  • "And I suppose they told you all about this fiendish plot to drive you crazy."

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Is the human imagination capable of an evil more fiendish than this?

    Academic text (1998)
  • He cast a fiendish spell on two boys at school.

  • Yeah, it's as insidious and fiendish a plot as anything found in Shakespeare's library of tragedies.

    Blog text (31)
  • Yet to feel envy is human, but to indulge in such malicious joy is fiendish and diabolical.

  • With fiendish delight, he'd relate in grim detail the fates of scientists who went too far.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • "Because, Casimir," Lukas replied with a fiendish grin, "because you are a fetal god!"

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The detective was shocked by the fiendish cruelty of the crime, which involved the betrayal of innocent victims.

Synonyms

brutal
vsfiendish
  • NSFW
229 4.8

Very cruel and violent, causing pain or suffering

is evil cruelty that can occur without physical violence
vile
vsfiendish
157 5.0

Very bad and morally wrong

is cruelty stressed as deliberate extreme wickedness rather than disgust
ruthless
vsfiendish
152 4.9

Not feeling sorry for others and hurting them on purpose

is cruelty from deliberate wickedness rather than mere unfeelingness
wicked
vsfiendish
149 4.6

A person or action that is very bad and cruel

is stronger, stressing great cruelty and extreme wickedness
heinous
vsfiendish
  • Formal
92 9.0

Extremely cruel and shocking

is extreme cruelty focused more on wicked intent than shock
demonic
vsfiendish
91 8.1

Extremely evil and cruel, as if caused by the devil

is intense evil without implying a supernatural source
vicious
vsfiendish
71 4.9

Morally wrong or deserving strong criticism

is extreme cruelty rather than general moral badness
nefarious
vsfiendish
  • Formal
47 8.8

Very bad and illegal, done to harm people

is focused on cruel evil rather than simply criminality
diabolical
vsfiendish
44 8.2

Very evil and cruel, like a devil

is extreme evil not necessarily tied to a devil image
satanic
vsfiendish
36 7.5

Extremely evil and cruel, like something from hell

is extreme evil without naming Satan or hell
hellish
vsfiendish
28 6.1

Very unpleasant and painful, like being in hell

is severe cruelty without the hell comparison
monstrous
vsfiendish
27 7.3

Very cruel and shocking, causing strong fear

is evil in nature even when not physically horrifying
malevolent
vsfiendish
22 8.0

Wanting to harm others

is active extreme cruelty rather than merely harmful intent
ungodly
vsfiendish
21 7.2

Morally wrong because it goes against religious rules

is focused on cruelty and wickedness without religious tone
odious
vsfiendish
  • Formal
20 8.2

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel strong dislike

is focused on cruelty and evil rather than general offensiveness
unholy
vsfiendish
20 6.3

Extremely cruel and evil, like something from hell

is intense cruelty rather than a religious judgment
dastardly
vsfiendish
  • Archaic
17 8.4

A person who is very cruel and cowardly, often betraying others secretly

is cruel and wicked without necessarily involving cowardice
devilish
vsfiendish
17 4.4

Being very naughty in a playful, clever way

is severe and cruel rather than playful mischief
wretched
vsfiendish
  • Offensive
15 7.1

Very bad in a moral way and deserving strong blame

is intense cruelty and wickedness rather than mere moral failing
villainous
vsfiendish
14 7.3

Very bad and cruel, often hurting other people

is severe cruelty without implying a theatrical villain role
atrocious
vsfiendish
12 7.6

Very cruel and shocking, causing great pain and fear

is extreme wickedness beyond mere badness
infernal
vsfiendish
  • Literature
8 8.3

Very evil and cruel, causing great pain or suffering

is extreme cruelty without the explicit hell association
venomous
vsfiendish
6 6.3

Showing strong hate and wanting to hurt someone

is overtly cruel and evil rather than mainly hateful intent
execrable
vsfiendish
  • Formal
4 9.5

Very bad and unpleasant, causing strong dislike

is specifically extreme cruelty rather than broad badness
baleful
vsfiendish
  • Formal
4 8.4

Looking or sounding dangerous and making you feel afraid

is active extreme cruelty rather than a threatening presence
beastly
vsfiendish
3 6.5

Cruel and showing no care for other people like an animal

is extreme wickedness rather than merely animal like behaviour
iniquitous
vsfiendish
  • Formal
2 9.8

Very unfair and wrong in a way that harms people

is cruelty focused rather than general unfairness
diabolic
vsfiendish
1 7.8

Very evil and cruel, like the devil

is extreme cruelty without the devil comparison
flagitious
vsfiendish
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very wicked and criminal act that shocks people

is extreme cruelty that may not involve criminal acts
ogreish
vsfiendish
  • Offensive
8.8

Someone who is very mean and greedy and frightens other people

is severe cruelty not just coarse or monstrous in form

Antonyms

534 1.0

Being helpful and caring toward other people

53 5.1

Willing to help other people and give them things they need

How Evil

diabolical
44 8.2
fiendish
10 7.9
evil
3.0
cruel
522 2.7
wicked
149 4.6
bad
12 4.9

Surface Forms

fiendish positive

Morphology

fiendish = fiend (transparent) = fiend + ish

The adjective is a direct formation from 'fiend' + '-ish' meaning 'like or characteristic of a fiend', which clearly yields 'extremely evil or cruel'.

Etymology

Fiendish comes from fiend, which meant 'devil' or 'enemy', plus the ending -ish meaning 'like'. So fiendish originally meant 'like a devil' and is used for someone or something very cruel or wicked.