1
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
that's a devilish amount of bad luck for any person to have to endure
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in demonic
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit
a devilish plan to sabotage the other party's political convention
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3
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a devilish grin that told us he was up to something
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devilish
She was tricked by the very devilish Zeus, who broke his way into many marriages.
—
Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
These devilish tracking cookies were supposedly being killed, until Google hit the pause button last July.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
That wasn’t possible because Pollux was immortal, but despite his devilish nature Zeus had a soft spot in his heart for his son.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
Kilmer played up all of those traits in the film’s climactic scene, an intimate man-to-man duel with the gunfighter Johnny Ringo (a devilish Michael Biehn), that stands as arguably the best gun battle of the modern Western era — even if only two shots were fired.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
These devilish tracking cookies were supposedly being killed, until Google hit the pause button last July.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
That wasn’t possible because Pollux was immortal, but despite his devilish nature Zeus had a soft spot in his heart for his son.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
Kilmer played up all of those traits in the film’s climactic scene, an intimate man-to-man duel with the gunfighter Johnny Ringo (a devilish Michael Biehn), that stands as arguably the best gun battle of the modern Western era — even if only two shots were fired.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilish
Adjective
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These thunderstorms are producing an excessive amount of deadly cloud to ground lightning.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 May 2025
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The lawsuit argues the incident is part of a larger pattern of excessive force by deputies.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Bill Skarsgård returns to play Pennywise, the demonic clown that serves as It's most frequently used guise.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
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Although perhaps not as crazy as their Berber grandmother, who puts both his addiction and the virus down to the Red Wind, a kind of demonic possession.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Two decades on, Stitch ranks among Disney’s most ubiquitous characters — especially from a merchandising perspective, as that mischievous mug of his can be seen on backpacks, plush toys, T-shirts and, well, mugs of all sizes.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
20 May 2025
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Sure there might be a mischievous mouse-deer stealing fruit from an orangutan, but once the mystery is solved, the two animals comprise on how to share—no harm or conflict intended.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Hazards differ according to geography, but include flooding, wildfires, extreme heat, storm surges, and other severe weather events.—
Claire Poole,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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Given the continued disparities of labor in the home, women face unique challenges during and after extreme weather events.—
Sheetal Khedkar Rao,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Though it was written around the time of Malibu’s Woolsey fire, the 14-minute long dirge that encompasses flames in Malibu and a cougar that roams the hills took on a new and sinister meaning in the aftermath of the more recent fires.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
19 May 2025
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With the two men mismatched in temperament and direction, Diller was gone in a year and a half—fleeing one sinister Davis (Martin) for the arms of another, equally sinister one (Marvin), who controlled Twentieth Century Fox.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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This one says that offshore holding companies are wicked and should be penalized.—
William Baldwin,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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Of course, the wicked power of this franchise’s best installment extends beyond its initial stretch on a highway to hell.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Amanda learned in like 10 seconds, which is insane.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
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The emu egg—a two pound, eight-inch ovoid with a sultry teal shell gently speckled in pale green—seemed like just the right absurdist final flourish for an already insane endeavor.—
Helen Rosner,
The New Yorker,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The two then engaged in playful flirtation that escalated into a steamy encounter in another stall.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
18 May 2025
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The moment instantly sparked playful reactions cross the internet with some cheekily demanding the robot get its act together.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilish. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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