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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Below, Park gets into the devilish debauchery of Mary Todd Lincoln.
—
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Both of the above are essential to the show’s endgame, ensuring that a sequence of unhinged kickers ostensibly meant to be devilish fun instead come across as mean-spirited and exploitative.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
And the drinks really are devilish good.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
One devilish regime cracks with Maduro’s capture; gratuitous, imperial profiteering must not be allowed to empower another.
—Anthony Dominguez, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Both of the above are essential to the show’s endgame, ensuring that a sequence of unhinged kickers ostensibly meant to be devilish fun instead come across as mean-spirited and exploitative.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
And the drinks really are devilish good.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
One devilish regime cracks with Maduro’s capture; gratuitous, imperial profiteering must not be allowed to empower another.
—Anthony Dominguez, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilish
Adjective
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Sahil was initially charged with DUI causing injury and vehicular manslaughter, along with enhancements for causing great bodily injury, having an excessive blood-alcohol content and circumstances in aggravation.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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But the Police Department says an internal affairs investigation determined the claims of excessive force were unfounded.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Make your way to our festival headquarters before the screenings begin, strutting through the French Quarter in style behind a demonic brass band, creepy characters both familiar and unknown, and you.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
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In Darren Aronofsky's body horror ballet drama, Portman veers demonic and literally turns into a human swan.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Your 5th House of Discovery brightens as mischievous Mercury conjoins the life-giving Sun.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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But of course, the mischievous Cat in the Hat can only save the day in typical Seussian fashion.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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However, recent warmer temperatures this winter and extreme wind events have beaten down the wildflowers and signaled that summer is approaching, which can deplete the bloom, according to Fraga.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Pakistan has announced extreme austerity measures, South Korea is introducing its first fuel price cap in almost 30 years, and G7 ministers met to discuss potentially releasing strategic oil reserves.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As labor complications ensue, a blizzard rages outside trapping the family in their home – sitting ducks for whatever sinister presence might be in there with them.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
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Dumas’ sinister seductress Milady is now a British spy helping the Nazis.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Her taste for wicked, wildly inventive terror continues to make the increasingly beloved festival’s bite-sized offerings one of its most reliable highlights.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
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In the first film, Cynthia Erivo’s not-so-wicked witch Elphaba has the more interesting character arc.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Stewie’s miserable, the other kids are miserable, and even the turtle is miserable… until Stewie begins rolling out his trusty array of devices to take them anywhere in space and time, turning every boring day at school into an insane and surreal adventure.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
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But Sean Penn was so out there and insane.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The death of medieval theocratic dictator of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei--a diabolical fanatic who pursued nuclear weapons--is a moment of celebration.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
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The full acting out of a specific high-school-production version of Wendy was absolutely diabolical.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilish. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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