# Abaddon

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abaddon
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the destroyer

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a name for the angel of the bottomless pit or a powerful figure of destruction.

For teachers: the angel of the abyss, often identified with the Greek figure Apollyon, representing ultimate destruction.

- In the old story, Abaddon rose from the pit to bring ruin to the land.
- The poet personified death as Abaddon, a relentless force emerging from the depths to claim the souls of the fallen.

### 2. hell or the abyss

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a poetic name for hell or a place of total destruction.

For teachers: a place of destruction or the bottomless pit of hell; used primarily in poetic or theological contexts.

- The lost souls were said to be trapped forever in the dark depths of Abaddon.
- Milton’s verse describes the descent into Abaddon, portraying it as a realm of eternal shadow and profound despair.

### 3. an informer

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Archaic · Slang

a criminal who tells the police about other criminals.

For teachers: an informer or 'snitch' within the criminal underworld who provides information to the authorities.

- The gang suspected he was an Abaddon and refused to speak in his presence.
- In the nineteenth-century underworld, being branded an Abaddon was a death sentence for any thief caught talking to the constabulary.

Usage: This sense is historical and no longer used in modern conversation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.