Fiendish: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something extremely cruel or wicked, often in a complex or cunning way.

• The puzzle was fiendish; it took me hours to solve.
• He hatched a fiendish plot to get revenge on his enemies.

Can describe someone or something very evil or morally wrong. It can also be used informally to mean something extremely good or impressive in more casual contexts.

• The wicked witch cursed the entire village.
• That roller coaster ride was wicked!

Employed to describe something that is devilish or evil, often invoking an image of pure malice or wickedness. It is stronger than 'fiendish' and suggests something almost supernatural in its evilness.

• The villain's diabolical plan threatened the entire city.
• Her diabolical smile sent chills down my spine.

Used to describe actions or intentions that are meant to harm, hurt, or cause suffering to others. It has a negative connotation.

• The hacker launched a malicious attack on the company's servers.
• She made a malicious comment that left him feeling deeply hurt.

Refers to someone who gains pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others. It has a very strong negative connotation.

• His sadistic behavior made life unbearable for the prisoners.
• She took a sadistic delight in watching others suffer.

This word is best used when describing something extremely difficult and also has a slightly negative connotation, suggesting a sense of evil or malice behind it.

• The fiendish puzzle left all the competitors frustrated and defeated.
• Her fiendish plan to take over the company was finally revealed.

Use this word when describing something that requires effort and skill to overcome, often seen in a positive light as an opportunity to improve or grow.

• Climbing Mount Everest is certainly a challenging feat.
• The project was challenging, but it pushed us to new heights.

This term is often used to describe tasks or problems that are deceptively difficult or require clever thinking to solve. It can also imply a slight element of deceit or cunning.

• The riddle was quite tricky and stumped most of the players.
• Navigating through the dense forest without a map proved to be tricky.

Best used when referring to something that is not straightforward and has many confusing or intricate details, often used to describe situations or systems.

• The relationship between the two countries is quite complicated.
• The instructions for assembling the furniture were overly complicated.

This word is suitable for describing something that has many interconnected parts or aspects, making it harder to understand or solve.

• The human brain is incredibly complex.
• Understanding quantum mechanics requires grappling with very complex concepts.