bedevil

verb be·dev·il \ bi-ˈde-vəl , bē- \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Examples: bedevil in a Sentence

Definition of bedevil

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

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bedevilment

play \-mənt\ noun

See bedevil defined for English-language learners

See bedevil defined for kids

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 of bedevil from the Web

The name change, however, also reflects two facts that have long bedeviled the arch and its role within the National Park Service.

— philip kennicott, kansascity, "St. Louis’ Gateway Arch emerges with new name, skeptical view of western expansion," 3 July 2018
But the company was back in the news this week for an ad that strikes at the heart of an issue bedeviling European borders: migration.

— ceylan yeginsu, New York Times, "Benetton ‘Migrants’ Ads Draw Outrage for Using Photos of Real Migrants," 21 June 2018
Will Belgium continue with the 4-3-3 that bedeviled Brazil?

— brian straus, SI.com, "Ties That Bind World Cup Semifinal Foes France, Belgium Go Beyond Thierry Henry," 9 July 2018
As the Earp heir, Wynonna is fated to protect the hamlet of Purgatory — and the world — from the demons that bedevil the town.

— maureen ryan, New York Times, "A Cult Show’s Recipe for Success: Whiskey, Twitter and Complex Women," 6 July 2018
Perhaps the larger dilemma that bedevils New America is the problem faced by so many centrist and non-partisan institutions in the Trump era.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "CEO of Google-funded think tank argues “Google is a person.”," 25 June 2018
Officials have called for more region-wide governance, a welcome change from the municipal turf battles that have bedevilled China.

— The Economist, "China is trying to turn itself into a country of 19 super-regions," 21 June 2018
The claim is the latest in a string of maneuvers that have bedeviled Trump and Cohen.

— NBC News, "Michael Avenatti: Two more women may have deals with Trump," 17 May 2018
The description of the locale is somewhat flat, but Ólafsdóttir excels in exploring what bedevils Jónas and the novel’s other men: a conception of manhood that prevents them from articulating emotion or understanding power except as violence.

— junot díaz, The New Yorker, "Briefly Noted," 7 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bedevil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.