diabolizationn.
/dʌɪˌabəlʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, /dʌɪˌabl̩ʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, U.S. /daɪˌæbələˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/, /daɪˌæbəˌlaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ The action of diabolize v. (in various senses); an instance of this. Also: the action or process of turning someone into a devil or becoming like a devil. Cf. demonization n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > evil spirit or demon > [noun] > demonization
diabolizing1648
diabolization1711
diabolification1784
demonization1799
demonizing1847
1711 tr. L. Bordelon Hist. Ridiculous Extravagancies Monsieur Oufle ii. iv. 209 You assert..that the Souls of the Wicked become Devils: I shou'd..say, that they Suffer as Devils do, and that they have the Malignity of Devils... This is what you ought to mean by your Diabolisation [Fr. diabolisement].
1867 Nation 20 June 500/2 The Tory gentlemen accused him of going straight to the ‘Americanization’, which in their mouths is equivalent to ‘diabolization’.., of the country.
1879 M. D. Conway Demonol. II. iv. xi. 120 The diabolisation of Asteria (the fallen star) was through her daughter Hecate.
1926 J. D. Stoops Ideals of Conduct xxi. 240 The will to live here and now..asserted itself against the mediæval internalization and consequent diabolization of life itself.
1974 Theory & Society 1 139 Folklore, works of art, religious beliefs, and patterns of speech made the ‘diabolization’ of the Jew a virtually continuous theme in Western thought.
2012 New Republic (Nexis) 13 Sept. 3 Ryan's philosophy represents the demonization of need and the diabolization of weakness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1711