: the most powerful spirit of evil in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam who is often represented as the ruler of hell
informal
1
—used to make a statement or question more forceful
What the devil are you talking about?
Where the devil have you been?
2
: something that is very difficult or that causes a lot of trouble
The shoes look great, but they're the devil to walk in.
Examples of the Devil in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
Hathaway has five films coming out before 2027, starting with the pop opera Mother Mary in April, then the Devil Wears Prada sequel in May, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in July, sci-fi flick Flowervale Street in August, and the Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity in October.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
So much of Queen’s life in Between the Devil is without her permission—the move from Los Angeles, the work, the abandoning of a degree.
—Diana Arterian
august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the Devil
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Noun
The incident was the latest in a series of fatal incidents along the Devil’s Slide coastline near Pacifica, a scenic stretch of Highway 1 known for its cliffs and dangerous terrain and associated with serious accidents and rescues.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
Hathaway has five films coming out before 2027, starting with the pop opera Mother Mary in April, then the Devil Wears Prada sequel in May, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in July, sci-fi flick Flowervale Street in August, and the Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity in October.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
The area’s storied ship and plane disappearances have sparked urban legends, earning it the ominous nickname of the Devil’s Triangle.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
So much of Queen’s life in Between the Devil is without her permission—the move from Los Angeles, the work, the abandoning of a degree.
—Diana Arterian
august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the Devil
Cite this Entry
“The Devil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20Devil. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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