If your story includes an antagonist who is evil in their actions, in this post we’ve included 10 words to describe a demonic person.
1. Fiendish
Definition
A person who delights in being cruel or horrible.
Examples
“His fiendish ways always scared those close to him, and no one could ignore the way he smiled when others cried.”
“She had a fiendish smile, and this always signaled a new plot brewing in her mind. Whenever she looked slightly happy, bad things started to happen.”
How it Adds Description
The word “fiendish” portrays the joy people get out of seeing or doing cruel things, and this is a perfect adjective to describe a demonic person. Typically, demonic characters cause chaos and delight in negative happenings. Therefore, “fiendish” can portray your character’s true demonic side to your reader.
2. Malevolent
Definition
Someone of something that deliberately causes harm or commits evil acts.
Examples
“Everyone in the room turned to see the malevolent look on his face, and they all knew nothing good would follow.”
“Her malevolent gaze penetrated through the window, and the couple inside could feel her watching.”
How it Adds Description
Demonic characters are closely associated with evil, and the word “malevolent” captures this truly horrible link. “Malevolent” is a stronger adjective than others on this list, and it is a great option to use for intense demonic behavior. It is also associated with horror, so it’s a great way to build suspense and scare your readers.
3. Manic
Definition
Someone that’s more excitable or anxious than usual.
Examples
“His eyes turned black and he became manic, and this made the younger children cry out in fear.”
“They were manic, and it was obvious that the demonic spirit was slowly taking over their minds.”
How it Adds Description
If you want to portray your demonic character’s actions, the adjective “manic” provides a very clear image. While this word isn’t a synonym for demonic, it describes hyper-energetic behavior which is often displayed in pop culture demonic characters. This is a great word to experiment with if you want to provide a clear description of the way your demonic character moves or acts.
4. Sinister
Definition
Something or someone who seems harmful or evil.
Examples
“He had a sinister mind, there was no doubt about it. However, he hid his evil thoughts with false smiles and pleasant small talk.”
“They glanced around and spotted his sinister stare, and suddenly a chill washed over them.”
How it Adds Description
The word “sinister” describes someone that seems evil, and it’s a good choice for describing a character who hasn’t been confirmed as demonic yet. “Sinister” can also help to foreshadow future plot points, such as hinting at demonic personalities or places.
5. Corrupt
Definition
Someone of something who is morally wrong or dishonest.
Examples
“He was corrupt in his body and mind, there was no hope of him becoming the boy he used to be ever again.”
“The nation was healing, but she was corrupt, and on a mission to remove the peace again.”
How it Adds Description
If someone is demonic, they are likely not acting morally. The word “corrupt” shows a character’s lack of morality and honesty. In addition, “corrupt” can point to characters who have been possessed by a demonic spirit. You can describe them as being “corrupted” by the evil presence, thus explaining their actions.
6. Wild
Definition
Someone who acts in an uncontrolled and disorderly manner.
Examples
“He became wild overnight, and after the incident no one even recognized him anymore. It was frightening to watch.”
“She was wild, and would not stop screeching in a language no one understood.”
How it Adds Description
If you’re aiming to describe how a demonic character is acting, “wild” could be the adjective for you. “Wild” is often associated with animals, thus you can imply your character is no longer acting human. Also, it paints a vivid image of someone that’s no longer trying to fit in with society’s conventions — ideal if they’ve just been possessed.
7. Cursed
Definition
Someone or something suffering as a result of actions, bad luck, or a curse.
Examples
“From the moment he was born, his mother knew he was cursed. However, his cursed behavior only started to show as he reached adulthood.”
“She looked in the mirror and a cursed reflection stared back, making her jolt in shock.”
How it Adds Description
The word “cursed” can signal that one character is afflicted by demonic thoughts, and this can explain why their actions are becoming negative or unruly. “Cursed” also signals that the character doesn’t wish to be demonic and that they’re struggling. This is a good term to use if you want your reader to feel pity for the character, making your demonic character multidimensional instead of a flat horror trope.
8. Unearthly
Definition
Someone who is acting unnatural or very strange.
Examples
“There was no doubt he was a demon, and his unearthly stance was the tell-tale sign that he wasn’t part of this world.”
“She was fighting hard to ignore his presence, but he was unearthly and broke her down in seconds.”
How it Adds Description
If your demonic character isn’t from Earth as we know it, the term “unearthly” can help you describe their unusual actions. The word “unearthly” is also a good adjective for building fear, as it paints the demon as an outsider who wants to disrupt the status quo.
9. Hideous
Definition
Someone or something that’s very unattractive or ugly.
Examples
“Whenever he showed his true demonic form he was hideous.”
“He was hideous through and through, and it was her love for him that scared her most.”
How it Adds Description
A demonic character might look scary, evil, or different from most humans. If you want to portray your character’s unappealing physique, the adjective “hideous” is the one for you. This is a great word to set your character up as an outsider, too.
10. Petrifying
Definition
Someone that stuns or stops someone else with fear.
Examples
“She awoke to his petrifying face, the night visits were starting again.”
“He kept running, but her petrifying figure loomed close behind him.”
How it Adds Description
Demons and demonic characters are often scary, and the adjective “petrifying” will ensure your reader feels fear. This word can help to build suspense, especially when used with a slow buildup of description surrounding the demonic character.