waswasa means whisperings of the devil; temptation away from the correct religious path. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 95 out of 100.
Why this word is great
WASWASA — [Noun] In Islamic theology, the subtle, whispering insinuations ascribed to evil spirits that tempt one away from religious rectitude. From Arabic وَسْوَسَة (waswasa), from the root و س و س (w-s-w-s) pertaining to whispering or insinuating. Unlike "temptation"—a broad enticement to sin—or "doubt"—an internal state of uncertainty—waswasa is the external, spectral voice that plants the seed, a personalized, haunting suggestion. It is the sudden thought that fractures prayer, the cynical whisper questioning a charitable motive, or the insistent logic that makes a simple prohibition seem absurd. It is the sound of one's own mind turned traitor, the most intimate voice in your head that does not belong to you.
noun
- Whisperings of the devil; temptation away from the correct religious path.