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
Their faces are devilish in the firelight, the shadows bringing out the angles, the lines of their cheekbones.
—
Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
The University of Hong Kong Business School reported that K-pop girl-group Blackpink’s Lisa, a Thai national, posted the devilish doll on Instagram, which caught the attention of a Thai princess; Labubu even became Thailand’s official tourism ambassador.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 20 Aug. 2025
Sent to New York to retrieve his devilish brothers, Nicky spots Cassius (Tommy Lister Jr.), in the form of a referee (Dana Carvey), causing trouble during a Harlem Globetrotters game, so much so that the fans are on the verge of rioting.
—Derek Lawrence, Vulture, 28 July 2025
This isn’t the first time devilish footwear has generated headlines.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
The University of Hong Kong Business School reported that K-pop girl-group Blackpink’s Lisa, a Thai national, posted the devilish doll on Instagram, which caught the attention of a Thai princess; Labubu even became Thailand’s official tourism ambassador.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 20 Aug. 2025
Sent to New York to retrieve his devilish brothers, Nicky spots Cassius (Tommy Lister Jr.), in the form of a referee (Dana Carvey), causing trouble during a Harlem Globetrotters game, so much so that the fans are on the verge of rioting.
—Derek Lawrence, Vulture, 28 July 2025
This isn’t the first time devilish footwear has generated headlines.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilish
Adjective
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On Sunday, a 15% chance of flash flooding from excessive rainfall exists along the coast from Ocean City, Maryland to Cape Cod.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
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The problem arises when excessive dust, dirt, and hair accumulate around the coils, preventing them from performing their job adequately.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With every temptation, Jesus is lured into a forbidden world, and a terrified Joseph soon realizes that a demonic power is at work.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
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On the Met’s stage, the writer — called, say, Jamal Khashoggi — would be sung by a heroic tenor, his tormentor by a demonic baritone.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The 55-year-old leads a mighty ensemble cast currently performing at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre until November, with Life of Pi‘s Hiran Abeysekera embodying our protagonist with a mischievous sense of frenzy through Robert Hastie’s sharp, contemporary take on the classic.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
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Cats are notoriously mischievous—but there's a reason so many people have them anyway, and one man summed it up in a viral TikTok video.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The bank estimates that two-thirds of the population are living in extreme poverty — less than $3 a day.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
8 Oct. 2025
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The ocean anomaly has also been associated with extreme weather events, including droughts; warmer ocean temperatures can also generally help hurricanes develop more rapidly, and exacerbate fires, says Pastelok.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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One memorable moment comes early, when another call between Polly and her mother tilts into dread as the voice on the phone morphs into a more callous, sinister being.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, Jonathan and Mina Harker return to Transylvania with their teenage daughter, Quincey — only for her to be ensnared in the castle’s sinister games.—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Felt wings and ears secured with toothpicks transform petite pumpkins into wicked-cute bats.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
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There's something wicked about building horror movies around toys, dolls, and other kid-friendly touchstones; they're bound to entice (and potentially scar) curious young audiences more than usual.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Despite being found guilty, Gein was also declared insane and unable to stand trial.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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The Sony Bravia 8 II 65-inch Smart TV is a living room flex with its insane color, crisp contrast, and movie-theater-like sound.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This barrel chair nails that sweet spot between playful and polished.—
Bailey Berg,
Architectural Digest,
8 Oct. 2025
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The playful routine earned high praise from the judges, who were swept up in the performance.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilish. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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