devilish
adjective
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
Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
There's a reason for that longevity: Not only are the three witches (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker) both menacing and humorous, but their demise rests on a few clever kids who have to figure out how to exorcise the devilish trio for good.
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
The Hollywood actor’s devilish features and unmistakable crackling voice make for a pitch-perfect pair with Solnicki’s sardonic sensibility.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
The seven-piece lineup features a hero 30-pan palette, two lip kits, a highlighter trio, powder blush trio, mascara, and a devilish hand mirror to admire your artistry.
—Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29, 23 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devilish. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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devilish
adjective
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