bedevil
verb
be·dev·il
bi-ˈde-vəl 
bē-
bedeviled; bedeviling; bedevils
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
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 43-day government shutdown that had snarled air travel nationwide ended Wednesday night, but delays continue to bedevil passengers at Charlotte’s airport.
—
Chase Jordan
updated November 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 Nov. 2025
The resulting statement included commitments by both sides to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to renounce the use of force to acquire land, something that had bedeviled their relations for decades.
—Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Fraser was bedeviled by Elizabeth Hurley’s Beelzebub in Bedazzled (2000), earned career-best reviews for the Vietnam drama The Quiet American (2002), and landed a role in the Best Picture-winning Crash (2004).
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Advertisement The road to Tuesday’s win was one that bedeviled Democratic leaders for months.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bedevil
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chase Jordan
updated November 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 Nov. 2025
The resulting statement included commitments by both sides to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to renounce the use of force to acquire land, something that had bedeviled their relations for decades.
—Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Fraser was bedeviled by Elizabeth Hurley’s Beelzebub in Bedazzled (2000), earned career-best reviews for the Vietnam drama The Quiet American (2002), and landed a role in the Best Picture-winning Crash (2004).
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Advertisement The road to Tuesday’s win was one that bedeviled Democratic leaders for months.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bedevil
Cite this Entry
“Bedevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bedevil. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bedevil
verb
be·dev·il
bi-ˈdev-əl
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share