fiendishness
Diabolical cruel nature
Fiendishness is the quality of being extremely cruel, wicked, or diabolically clever.
It suggests malice with a hint of perverse enjoyment: the fiendishness of the trap, There was a certain fiendishness to his plan.
The word can describe genuine evil or playfully exaggerated mischief.
Profound moral wickedness
- diabolicalExtremely wicked or cruel
- villainyCriminal or evil behavior
- nefariousnessExtreme moral corruption
- depravityProfound moral corruption
sinister · heinousness · iniquity · dastardliness · infernal · demonic · hellish · satanic
Savage, merciless behavior
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- viciousnessExtreme cruelty or spite
- savageryExtreme, violent cruelty
- mercilessnessAbsence of compassion or clemency
barbarity · inhumanity · heartlessness · pitilessness · ferocity · ruthlessness · cold-bloodedness · monstrosity
Sneaky, underhanded quality
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- wilinessShrewd deceptive cleverness
slyness · manipulation · conniving · machination · subterfuge · chicanery · trickery · deceit
Active ill will
- spitePetty malicious intent
- vindictivenessDisposition toward retaliation
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
- malignancyCancerous, invasive growth
venom · vitriol · rancor · animosity · hostility · enmity · bitterness · hatred
Impish, wicked quality
- complexityState of being complicated
- intricacyState of elaborate complexity
- perplexityMental state of confusion
- tortuousnessState of twisting repeatedly
impossibility · ingenuity · cleverness · puzzle · labyrinthine · confounding · bafflement
evil
Profound moral wickedness
- diabolicalExtremely wicked or cruel
- villainyCriminal or evil behavior
- nefariousnessExtreme moral corruption
depravity · sinister · heinousness · iniquity · dastardliness · infernal · demonic · hellish · satanic · darkness
brutality
Savage, merciless behavior
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- viciousnessExtreme cruelty or spite
- savageryExtreme, violent cruelty
mercilessness · barbarity · inhumanity · heartlessness · pitilessness · ferocity · ruthlessness · cold-bloodedness · monstrosity · beastliness
deviousness
Sneaky, underhanded quality
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
- schemingCrafty and calculating
wiliness · slyness · manipulation · conniving · machination · subterfuge · chicanery · trickery · deceit · artifice
malevolence
Active ill will
- spitePetty malicious intent
- vindictivenessDisposition toward retaliation
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
malignancy · venom · vitriol · rancor · animosity · hostility · enmity · bitterness · hatred · vengefulness
devilishness
Impish, wicked quality
- complexityState of being complicated
- intricacyState of elaborate complexity
- perplexityMental state of confusion
tortuousness · impossibility · ingenuity · cleverness · puzzle · labyrinthine · confounding · bafflement
- mischiefmischief, hijinks, antics, pranks, antic
- dark magicblack magic, dark magic, sorcery, witchcraft, dark arts
- wickednessevil, evilness, wickedness, villainy, malice
- horrorshorror, dread, terror, fright, dreadfulness
fiendishnessbenevolence
Disposition toward doing good
saintliness · virtuousness · goodness · kindheartedness · righteousness
fiendishnesscompassion
Concern for others' distress
kindness · gentleness · tenderness · mercifulness · humaneness