devilish

adjective

dev·​il·​ish ˈde-vᵊl-ish How to pronounce devilish (audio)
ˈdev-lish
1
: resembling or befitting a devil: such as
a
b
: mischievous, roguish
a devilish grin
2
: extreme
in a devilish hurry
devilish adverb
devilishly adverb
devilishness noun

Did you know?

In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, Satan is usually referred to as diabolos or “slanderer” (from the Greek verb diaballein, “to slander,” literally “to throw across”). But in the Greek New Testament, the Hebrew word, which is Satanas or Satan in its Greek form, is used as if it were the devil’s proper name. The older Latin translations of the Bible retain Greek diabolos as diabolus, but St. Jerome’s version, the Vulgate, calls the devil Satan. Both words were borrowed into Old English, and we now call this figure both Satan and the Devil. The derived form devilish first appears in the 15th century.

Examples of devilish in a Sentence

She was attracted by his devilish charm. There was a devilish look of mischief in her eyes.
Recent Examples on the Web And then the whole thing is blanketed in that devilish ahogada sauce and a decadent dollop of sour cream. Mara Severin | Eating Out, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2023 After purchasing a new house with high hopes, Ricci’s family quickly learns that the home is haunted by a devilish creature — aka Doja Cat. Mckinley Franklin, Variety, 31 Aug. 2023 This manicure is a cute way to show your devilish spirit this Halloween. Ariana Yaptangco, ELLE, 30 Aug. 2023 But the coach’s devilish provocations are what linger in the mind long after the shock of the scam’s specifics fades. Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2023 Just like other spooky destinations, many of these thoroughfares are supposedly haunted by the spirits of people who died there — others have reportedly been visited by everything from devilish creatures to aliens. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2023 At the end of the video, the big reveal shows that she’s recreated a few of the cutesy characters from the Mañana Será Bonita with devilish features, hinting perhaps at the vibe of the new album. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2023 Makeup hid Pee-wee’s five o’clock shadow; cherry lipstick defined his devilish smile. Hank Stuever, Washington Post, 31 July 2023 The chilling trailer features Jewett, along with Marcum, afflicted with the same devilish glares that Blair made infamous in the franchise’s horrifying first installment. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 26 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'devilish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English develyssh, from devel devil entry 1 + -yssh -ish

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of devilish was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near devilish

Cite this Entry

“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devilish. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

devilish

adjective
dev·​il·​ish ˈdev-(ə-)lish How to pronounce devilish (audio)
1
: characteristic of or resembling the devil
devilish tricks
2
: extreme entry 1 sense 1, excessive
in a devilish hurry
devilish adverb
devilishly adverb
devilishness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on devilish

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