# fiend

/ˈfind/ (US) · /fˈiːnd/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

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

## Definition

someone who is very interested in or obsessed with a specific activity. It can also mean a person who is very cruel or wicked.

For teachers: an individual with an intense, obsessive interest in a specific activity or substance; alternatively, a person of great wickedness or cruelty. Often used in compound forms to describe enthusiasts.

## Examples

- My brother is a total fitness fiend.
- As a self-proclaimed coffee fiend, she refuses to start her morning without a double shot of espresso.
- The antagonist was portrayed not as a mere criminal, but as a calculating fiend whose every action was designed to cause maximum psychological distress to his victims.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in informal compounds like 'caffeine fiend' or 'exercise fiend' to denote obsession.

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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.