| English Dictionary |
INFERNAL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does infernal mean?
• INFERNAL (noun)
The noun INFERNAL has 1 sense:
1. an inhabitant of Hell
Familiarity information: INFERNAL used as a noun is very rare.
• INFERNAL (adjective)
The adjective INFERNAL has 5 senses:
1. characteristic of or resembling Hell
2. extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell
3. expletives used informally as intensifiers
4. of or pertaining to or characteristic of a very uncontrolled and intense fire
5. being of the underworld
Familiarity information: INFERNAL used as an adjective is common.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
An inhabitant of Hell
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Context example:
his roar made the infernals quake
Hypernyms ("infernal" is a kind of...):
dead person; dead soul; deceased; deceased person; decedent; departed (someone who is no longer alive)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Characteristic of or resembling Hell
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Context example:
infernal punishment
Pertainym:
inferno (any place of pain and turmoil)
Derivation:
Inferno ((Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment)
inferno (any place of pain and turmoil)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell
Synonyms:
demonic; diabolic; diabolical; fiendish; hellish; infernal; satanic; unholy
Context example:
unholy grimaces
Similar:
evil (morally bad or wrong)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Expletives used informally as intensifiers
Synonyms:
blame; blamed; blasted; blessed; damn; damned; darned; deuced; goddam; goddamn; goddamned; infernal
Context example:
an infernal nuisance
Similar:
cursed; curst (deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Of or pertaining to or characteristic of a very uncontrolled and intense fire
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Context example:
infernal heat
Pertainym:
inferno (a very intense and uncontrolled fire)
Derivation:
inferno (a very intense and uncontrolled fire)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Being of the underworld
Context example:
infernal regions
Similar:
chthonian; chthonic; nether (dwelling beneath the surface of the earth)
Hadean; Plutonian; Tartarean (of or relating to or characteristic of Hades or Tartarus)
Stygian (hellish)
Also:
evil (morally bad or wrong)
Antonym:
supernal (being or coming from on high)
Context examples
I forget she knows nothing of the character of that woman, or of the circumstances attending my infernal union with her.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
I have been under a Taboo in that infernal scoundrel's service.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Slowly the whole eastern sky filled with clouds that over-towered us like some black sierra of the infernal regions.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
It is this infernal St. Simon marriage case.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“You infernal spies!” the man cried. “What are you doing there?”
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
But, happily, there were limits to the strain which the rope would stand, though none apparently to the lifting powers of this infernal machine.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Why, I ain't sich an infernal lubber after all.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
It’s the infernal plan of turning a crew over from ship to ship and leaving the officers behind that rots the Navy.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
This poor lady is in the hands of a most infernal couple, who will stick at nothing, Watson.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“It’s a lie!” he shouted, “an infernal lie!”
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"The world will not find rest by just saying «peace.»" (Afghanistan proverb)
"Never let your tongue hit your neck." (Arabic proverb)
"Stretch your legs as far as your quilt goes." (Egyptian proverb)