infernal


Also found in: Thesaurus, Wikipedia.

in·fer·nal

 (ĭn-fûr′nəl)
adj.
1.
a. Of or relating to a lower world of the dead.
b. Of or relating to hell: infernal punishments; infernal powers.
2. Fiendish; diabolical: infernal instruments of war.
3. Abominable; awful: the infernal racket of the jackhammers.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin īnfernālis, from īnfernus, hell, from Latin, lower, underground; see n̥dher- in Indo-European roots.]

in·fer′nal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

infernal

(ɪnˈfɜːnəl)
adj
1. (Theology) of or relating to an underworld of the dead
2. deserving hell or befitting its occupants; diabolic; fiendish
3. informal irritating; confounded
[C14: from Late Latin infernālis, from infernus hell, from Latin (adj): lower, hellish; related to Latin inferus low]
ˌinferˈnality n
inˈfernally adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

in•fer•nal

(ɪnˈfɜr nl)

adj.
1. hellish; fiendish; diabolical: an infernal plot.
2. extremely troublesome, annoying, etc.; outrageous: an infernal nuisance.
3. of, inhabiting, or befitting hell or the underworld.
[1325–75; Middle English < Late Latin infernālis < Latin infern(us) situated below, of the underworld]
in`fer•nal′i•ty, n.
in•fer′nal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

infernal

- An inhabitant of the underworld can be called an infernal.
See also related terms for inhabitant.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.infernal - an inhabitant of Hellinfernal - an inhabitant of Hell; "his roar made the infernals quake"
dead person, dead soul, deceased, deceased person, decedent, departed - someone who is no longer alive; "I wonder what the dead person would have done"
Adj.1.infernal - characteristic of or resembling Hell; "infernal noise"; "infernal punishment"
2.infernal - extremely evil or cruelinfernal - extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell; "something demonic in him--something that could be cruel"; "fires lit up a diabolic scene"; "diabolical sorcerers under the influence of devils"; "a fiendish despot"; "hellish torture"; "infernal instruments of war"; "satanic cruelty"; "unholy grimaces"
evil - morally bad or wrong; "evil purposes"; "an evil influence"; "evil deeds"
3.infernal - expletives used informally as intensifiersinfernal - expletives used informally as intensifiers; "he's a blasted idiot"; "it's a blamed shame"; "a blame cold winter"; "not a blessed dime"; "I'll be damned (or blessed or darned or goddamned) if I'll do any such thing"; "he's a damn (or goddam or goddamned) fool"; "a deuced idiot"; "an infernal nuisance"
cursed, curst - deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier; "villagers shun the area believing it to be cursed"; "cursed with four daughter"; "not a cursed drop"; "his cursed stupidity"; "I'll be cursed if I can see your reasoning"
4.infernal - of or pertaining to or characteristic of a very uncontrolled and intense fire; "infernal heat"
5.infernal - being of the underworld; "infernal regions"
evil - morally bad or wrong; "evil purposes"; "an evil influence"; "evil deeds"
supernal - being or coming from on high; "interpret the plague as a visitation from heaven, a supernal punishment for the sins of men"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

infernal

adjective
1. damned, malevolent, hellish, devilish, accursed, damnable The post office is shut, which is an infernal bore.
2. hellish, lower, underworld, nether, Stygian, Hadean, Plutonian, chthonian, Tartarean (literary) the goddess of the infernal regions
hellish heavenly, celestial
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

infernal

adjective
1. Perversely bad, cruel, or wicked:
2. So annoying or detestable as to deserve condemnation:
Informal: blamed, damned.
Chiefly British: blooming, ruddy.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
helvetillinenpirullinen

infernal

[ɪnˈfɜːnl] ADJinfernal (fig) → infernal, del demonio
stop that infernal racket!¡deja de hacer ese ruido infernal!, ¡deja de hacer ese ruido del demonio!
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

infernal

[ɪnˈfɜːrnəl] adjinfernal(e)
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

infernal

adj
(lit)Höllen-; infernal fireHöllenfeuer nt
(fig) cruelty, schemeteuflisch; weathergrässlich; (inf) impudence, nuisanceverteufelt; noisehöllisch; this infernal machinediese Höllenmaschine
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

infernal

[ɪnˈfɜːnl] adj (fires) → dell'inferno; (spirit, powers) → infernale (fig) (cruelty) → diabolico/a (fam) (noise) → infernale, terribile
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
Watson began to talk of hunting--it was such an infernal bore having to waste one's time in an infernal office, he would only be able to hunt on Saturdays--and shooting: he had ripping invitations all over the country and of course he had to refuse them.
They peeped into the "infernal regions," where a good many men were crowding round one table, at which Yashvin was sitting.
But it was not to be so, and soon she was the unhappiest of mortals, vainly desirous to wander again in gloom by the infernal lakes.
Her infernal cleverness put an obstacle I had not expected in the way of my intercepting it.
It was not, I am as sure today as I was sure then, my mere infernal imagination: it was absolutely traceable that they were aware of my predicament and that this strange relation made, in a manner, for a long time, the air in which we moved.
You think you are omnipotent, you infernal scribblers, don't you?
Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv'd The Mother of Mankinde, what time his Pride Had cast him out from Heav'n, with all his Host Of Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring To set himself in Glory above his Peers, He trusted to have equal'd the most High, If he oppos'd; and with ambitious aim Against the Throne and Monarchy of God Rais'd impious War in Heav'n and Battel proud With vain attempt.
His infernal chattering worries me even now as I think of it.
He stopped and waited for me to join him in his infernal glee.
We will disobey!" But at the moment he was about to adopt this plan, he saw the officers around him reading similar orders, which the passive agent of the thoughts of that infernal Colbert had distributed to them.
At last, with a desperate effort I threw my feet to the floor and passing between the two rows of clouted faces and the two bodies that lay nearest the door, I escaped from the infernal place and ran to the office.
Pyke asked Pluck whether it was not an infernal shame, and Pluck asked Pyke; but neither answered.