bedevil

verb

be·​dev·​il bi-ˈde-vəl 

bē-

bedeviled; bedeviling; bedevils

transitive verb

1

: to possess with or as if with a devil

2

: to cause distress : trouble

3

: to change for the worse : spoil

4

: to confuse utterly

bedevilment

bi-ˈde-vəl-mənt 

bē-

noun

Synonyms

• afflict
• plague
• persecute
• besiege
• beset

Examples of bedevil in a Sentence

The theory bedevils scientists, none of whom have been able to prove it true or false.

The project has been bedeviled by problems since its inception.

Recent Examples on the Web

The tech sprawl bedevilling payment applications in particular underscores the breadth of the problem. —Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

The new students were particularly bedeviled by the combination locks. —Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025

The argument isn’t without merit – since ESPN already has rights to these clips there isn’t much of the copyright concern bedeviling its parent company. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025

Since their discovery in 1982, exotic materials known as quasicrystals have bedeviled physicists and chemists. —Patchen Barss, Quanta Magazine, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bedevil

• daredevil
• sublevel
• bevel
• devil
• level
• mediaeval
• multilevel

Kids Definition

bedevil

verb

be·​dev·​il bi-ˈdev-əl 

: to trouble or annoy again and again : pester, harass

bedeviled by problems

bedevilment

-mənt 

noun