bedevil

1 of 2

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

bedevilment

2 of 2

noun

be·​dev·​il·​ment bi-ˈde-vəl-mənt 

bē-

plural -s

1

: a situation or condition that bedevils : confusion, disorder, vexation, trouble

2

: possession by a devil

mad conduct and other signs of bedevilment

Synonyms of bedevil

Verb

• afflict
• plague
• persecute
• besiege
• beset

Examples of bedevil in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

But any Republican looking for the nomination to succeed Trump will have to sidestep the same sort of internal clashes over Israel that have bedeviled Democrats. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026

That restriction starkly illustrates the challenges that continue to bedevil the movement to put value at the center of health care policy. — Dana P. Goldman, STAT, 22 Oct. 2026

While other members of the Biden administration have defended Becerra’s performance, his time at the helm highlighted an issue that even allies concede has bedeviled Becerra in the past, his tendency to sometimes recede into the background. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Still, even the people directly involved in the new jail’s construction aren’t oblivious to how their intense, late-night schedule will bedevil the surrounding community for years to come. — Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bedevil

• daredevil
• sublevel
• bevel
• devil
• level
• 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