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

There is a gaping hole in weather balloon coverage in western Alaska — a critical shortage bedeviling US forecasts and the National Weather Service since layoffs hit the agency as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s push to shrink the federal government back in February. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025

The one thing that has bedeviled the group is the quarterback run. —Josh Kendall, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025

Other bilateral and regional problems also bedevil the relationship. —Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2025

Defensively, the Seahawks bedeviled Kyler Murray last year (seven sacks, three picks in a two-game sweep) and the Hawks’ D is better now. —Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 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