What does fiendlike mean?
Fiendlike is an adjective meaning resembling or characteristic of a fiend — that is, cruelly wicked, demonic, or diabolical in nature or appearance. It describes people, expressions, laughter, cunning, or cruelty that seems to belong to a devil rather than a human being. The word is chiefly literary and carries a strongly negative, often melodramatic connotation; it appears most frequently in discussions of Gothic literature, horror, villainous characters, and Shakespearean drama. Its most celebrated use comes from Macbeth, where Malcolm denounces the slain Lady Macbeth as a 'fiend-like queen,' fixing the term forever in the vocabulary of English literary criticism. While closely related to the more common 'fiendish,' which can also describe fiendishly difficult puzzles or schemes, 'fiendlike' stays closer to its root sense: a likeness to an actual demon or evil spirit. Writers reach for it when they want to suggest an almost supernatural degree of malice.
adjectiveResembling or characteristic of a fiend; cruelly wicked, diabolical, or devilishly malicious.
- Resembling or befitting a fiend in cruelty, malice, or evil; diabolical in appearance or manner.
"The villain's fiendlike grin revealed his delight in the chaos he had caused."
"He fixed his captors with a fiendlike stare that chilled them to the bone."
"Critics have long read Lady Macbeth's early scenes as a study in fiendlike ambition."
Shakespeare gave this word its most famous showcase: Lady Macbeth is condemned by Malcolm as a 'fiend-like queen' — and the phrase has haunted her character ever since.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fiendlike
Fiendlike is formed by compounding the noun 'fiend' with the adjectival suffix '-like.' The noun 'fiend' descends from Old English 'feond,' originally the present participle of a verb meaning 'to hate,' making a fiend etymologically 'the hating one' — an enemy. It shares this ancient Germanic root with the word 'foe.' The compound arose in English literary usage, becoming especially associated with depictions of demonic villainy in drama and Gothic fiction.
How fiendlike is actually used
A literary and somewhat archaic word, most often encountered in criticism of Gothic fiction, drama, and Shakespearean commentary — 'fiendlike' is far more common than the unhyphenated 'fiendlike' spelling might suggest, as it is usually written 'fiend-like'. It carries an intensely negative connotation and can sound melodramatic in everyday speech.
Easily confused with fiendlike
'Fiendish' means extremely difficult or wickedly clever as well as devilish, while 'fiendlike' specifically describes something that resembles a fiend or demon.