diabolize
LowFormal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
To portray as diabolical or evil; to make demonic.
To vilify or demonize someone or something, often in a hyperbolic or propagandistic manner.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a strong connotation of exaggeration and intentional, often unfair, vilification. Often used in critiques of rhetoric, media, or political discourse.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage; the spelling 'diabolise' is the standard British variant, while 'diabolize' is American.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to diabolize [someone/something]to diabolize [someone/something] as [noun phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; might appear in critiques of corporate smear campaigns.
Academic
Used in political science, media studies, and history to describe propaganda techniques.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tabloids sought to diabolise the protest movement.
- His speech was an attempt to diabolise the political opposition.
American English
- The talk show host constantly diabolizes his critics.
- Propaganda often aims to diabolize the enemy.
adverb
British English
- The article spoke diabolisingly of the proposed reforms.
American English
- He described his rival diabolizingly, painting him as a monster.
adjective
British English
- The diabolising rhetoric was unhelpful.
- He faced a wave of diabolising press coverage.
American English
- She wrote a book about the diabolizing tactics of modern politics.
- The film was criticized for its diabolizing portrayal of a historical figure.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Some newspapers try to diabolize people they don't like.
- The government's propaganda machine worked to diabolize the rebel groups.
- It is dangerous to diabolize your political opponents.
- The historian argued that the regime systematically diabolized minority groups to justify its policies.
- His biography avoids the temptation to diabolize its controversial subject.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DIABOL-ize' – to turn into a DIABOLical (devilish) figure.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPONENT/OUTGROUP IS THE DEVIL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'диагнозировать' (to diagnose). The root is related to 'дьявол' (devil).
- The correct conceptual translation is often 'демонизировать'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'diaganize' or 'diabolise' in American English.
- Using it as a synonym for simple 'criticize'; it implies a much stronger, evil-making process.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'diabolize'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are virtually synonymous, with 'diabolize' being slightly more formal and less common. Both imply portraying someone as evil or devilish.
The standard British spelling is 'diabolise'.
It is most appropriate in formal, academic, or literary contexts discussing propaganda, vilification, and extreme forms of negative characterization, especially in politics or media criticism.
Yes, it can be used for abstract concepts or groups (e.g., 'to diabolize socialism', 'to diabolize technology'). The object is portrayed as inherently evil or destructive.