as in to afflict
to cause persistent suffering to
a lingering cold bedeviled me for over a month
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bedevil
Even so, a violent curse bedevils them, a sophisticated feat of careful writing and directorial sensitivity that sets Chiarella apart from the gorehounds.
—
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Published in 1978, Tuchman’s history still feels current – there are pandemics, oligarchs, inequality, misinformation campaigns and endless warring, to name a few things that continue to bedevil us.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
With the exception of a Russian oil tanker that was allowed to dock in Cuba earlier this month, Washington has maintained a de-facto fuel embargo on the country, exacerbating the extreme energy shortages that bedevil the Cuban population on a daily basis.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Jude isn’t particularly fond of Bucharest, which is traffic-clogged, bedevilled by corruption, and generally exhausting.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bedevil
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Published in 1978, Tuchman’s history still feels current – there are pandemics, oligarchs, inequality, misinformation campaigns and endless warring, to name a few things that continue to bedevil us.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
With the exception of a Russian oil tanker that was allowed to dock in Cuba earlier this month, Washington has maintained a de-facto fuel embargo on the country, exacerbating the extreme energy shortages that bedevil the Cuban population on a daily basis.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Jude isn’t particularly fond of Bucharest, which is traffic-clogged, bedevilled by corruption, and generally exhausting.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bedevil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedevil
Verb
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This raises issues that will afflict us for decades but are best examined on their own.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
14 June 2026
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Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease caused by a virus that primarily and most severely afflicts children.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The play was a microcosm of many of the issues that have plagued the defending Super Bowl champions this season.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
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These slowdowns could keep the country from quickly responding to climate change, exacerbating droughts and fires that already plague Arizona.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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It's partially inspired by director Benjamin Christensen's research on the German text Malleus Maleficarum, a guide to witchcraft for inquisitors looking to persecute its perpetrators.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
Verb
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In place of the ancient forest was a shorn land besieged by uncontrollable wildfires, prone to land-slides and erosion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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Founded by the ancient Phoenicians, Tyre has been besieged numerous times, from Alexander the Great to the Crusaders.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
9 June 2026
Verb
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In welcome contrast to the volatility besetting the US market, the relatively nascent Gulf private credit market represents a bright spot and is attracting a steady stream of global asset managers.—
Melissa Hancock,
Fortune,
16 June 2026
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Iran has been beset with logistical problems since then, including the denial of visas for certain members of its delegation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bedevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedevil. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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