demoniac

1 of 2

adjective

de·​mo·​ni·​ac di-ˈmō-nē-ˌak 

variants or less commonly demoniacal

ˌdē-mə-ˈnī-ə-kəl 

1

: possessed or influenced by a demon

2

: demonic

demoniac rage

demoniacally

ˌdē-mə-ˈnī-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

demoniac

2 of 2

noun

: one possessed by a demon

Synonyms

Adjective

• cacodemonic
• demonian
• demonic
• demonical
• devilish
• diabolical
• diabolic
• fiendish
• Luciferian
• satanic

Examples of demoniac in a Sentence

Adjective

the murderer seemed possessed by a demoniac wish to destroy life

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English demonyak, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French demoniac, borrowed from Late Latin daemoniacus, borrowed from Greek daimoniakós, from daimónion "evil spirit" (Septuagint, New Testament), "divine power, lesser divine being" (noun derivative from neuter of daimónios, adjective derivative of daímōn "superhuman power, spirit intermediate between gods and humans") + -akos -ac — more at demon

Noun

Middle English demonyak, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French demoniac, borrowed from Late Latin daemoniacus, noun derivative of daemoniacus demoniac entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

demoniac

1 of 2 adjective

de·​mo·​ni·​ac di-ˈmō-nē-ˌak 

variants also demoniacal

ˌdē-mə-ˈnī-ə-kəl 

1

: possessed or influenced by a demon

2

: of, relating to, or suggestive of a demon : devilish, fiendish

demoniac cruelty

demoniacally

ˌdē-mə-ˈnī-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

demoniac

2 of 2 noun

: one possessed by a demon