mephistophelian

Mephistophelian denotes having the characteristics of Mephistopheles or resembling him in temperament or action: thoroughly devilish, cunning, seductive, and morally unscrupulous. The term is chiefly encountered in literary criticism and fiction to describe a figure or mood that mirrors the tempter’s wiles.

Derived from the name Mephistopheles, the demon's epithet in the Faust tradition. The exact origin of the demon’s name is uncertain; it has been rendered as Mephistophilis, Mephastophilus, Mephistophilus, and other variants. The adjective Mephistophelian is attested in English from the early modern period into the modern era, though it remains relatively rare.

In Goethe's Faust, Mephistopheles embodies a scheming, sardonic tempter who offers Faust knowledge and pleasure in exchange for his soul; the adjective Mephistophelian is often applied to descriptions of such traits in other characters. It can also describe a mood or action that is similarly wily and corrupt, such as a Mephistophelian bargain or plan. In broader usage, the term can evoke the archetype of the devilish mentor or adviser who undermines moral boundaries through wit and manipulation.

Related terms include Mephistopheles and Faust.