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noun C1 Advanced

fiend

FEEND

Fiend (noun) means an evil or demonic being; by extension, a cruel or wicked person. Example: “The villagers spoke of the creature as a fiend from the darkest legends.”

noun
1
An evil or demonic being; by extension, a cruel or wicked person.
"The villagers spoke of the creature as a fiend from the darkest legends."
2
Informal: someone with an intense, almost obsessive enthusiasm for something.
"He’s a total sugar fiend and can’t walk past a bakery."

How to use fiend

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA devilish, wicked being — or, casually, someone with an unstoppable craving for something.

Common pairings
a fiend for punishment evil fiend

Word forms

fiended past tense, fiends plural, fiends singular

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The villagers spoke of the creature as a _____ from the darkest legends.

Etymology

From Old English feond, "enemy" — originally just meaning a hated foe before it narrowed to mean a devil or demon.

Origin: Old English

Related words

Rhymes for fiend

See all rhymes for fiend →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fiend” mean?

The word “fiend” means an evil or demonic being; by extension, a cruel or wicked person. In plain terms, a devilish, wicked being — or, casually, someone with an unstoppable craving for something.

How do you pronounce “fiend”?

“Fiend” is pronounced FEEND (/ˈfiːnd/ in IPA).

How do you use “fiend” in a sentence?

Here is “fiend” used in a sentence: “The villagers spoke of the creature as a fiend from the darkest legends.”

What part of speech is “fiend”?

“Fiend” is a noun.

Where does the word “fiend” come from?

The word “fiend” comes from Old English. From Old English feond, "enemy" — originally just meaning a hated foe before it narrowed to mean a devil or demon.

How many meanings does “fiend” have?

“Fiend” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an evil or demonic being; by extension, a cruel or wicked person.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial