ENGLISH
REFERENCE

demonic

adj.
C1 Advanced US //dɪˈmɑnɪk// UK //diːmˈɒnɪk// de·mon·ic

adj. describing something that is very evil, cruel, or scary, like a demon. You can also use it to describe someone who has a huge amount of wild energy.

adj. relating to or characteristic of a demon; manifesting extreme cruelty or supernatural evil. Often used figuratively to describe intense, frenetic, or seemingly superhuman energy.


SIMPLE

The villain in the movie had a demonic laugh.

CONTEXTUAL

The athlete played with a demonic intensity that left his opponents struggling to keep up.

COMPLEX

The old legends spoke of a demonic presence haunting the woods, though modern scholars interpret these tales as metaphors for the psychological terrors of isolation.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin daemonicus, from Ancient Greek δαιμονικός (daimonikós, “possessed by a demon, sent by a demon”), from δαίμων (daímōn), equivalent to demon + -ic. Doublet of daimonic.

Usage

Often used figuratively to describe human behavior or energy levels rather than literal spirits.

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