bedevil

verb

be·​dev·​il bi-ˈde-vəl How to pronounce bedevil (audio)
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 noun

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
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.
The dispatch Since the Global Financial Crisis, poor productivity has bedeviled the U.K. economy for various reasons, including regional disparities and over-dependence on London and the southeast of England. Ian King, CNBC, 25 June 2025 After promising an end to entanglements that have bedeviled Trump’s predecessors, Trump now seems on the cusp of joining the fray in a region where 40,000 Americans are deployed and there are scant off-ramps. Philip Elliott, Time, 17 June 2025 The last-minute reliance on SpaceX's Dragon capsule underscored the chasm between Musk's relative upstart company and Boeing, the 108-year-old aerospace giant that has been bedeviled by technical, safety and engineering issues for years. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 The Champions League is where Newcastle aspire to be, but as last season demonstrated, when they were bedevilled by injury, there are no guarantees. George Caulkin, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bedevil

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bedevil was in 1574

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Cite this Entry

“Bedevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bedevil. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

bedevil

verb
be·​dev·​il bi-ˈdev-əl How to pronounce bedevil (audio)
: to trouble or annoy again and again : pester, harass
bedeviled by problems
bedevilment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bedevil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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