BEDEVIL Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

bedevil

verb

bi-ˈde-vəl

Definition of bedevil

as in to afflict

to cause persistent suffering to a lingering cold bedeviled me for over a month

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bedevil Injuries tend to be random, so Motley hopes the assortment of knee, ankle and foot concerns that have bedeviled him are squarely in the past. — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 The same dilemmas bedeviling the Abraham Lincoln have always gnawed at the core morale of every naval vessel that’s ever departed on a lengthy cruise beyond its homeport’s horizon. — Roger Archibald, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 Injuries continue to bedevil Brown, who permitted both passes against him to be caught (for 14 yards) in his limited work against Clemson. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026 Recent escalations in the war in Iran, including an attack on a major pipeline in Saudi Arabia, mean the rising gas prices bedeviling Republicans will not be going down anytime soon. — Dan Merica, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bedevil

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedevil

Verb

Speaking to Variety ahead of the market, Mackinnon says the show takes its title from the chronic burnout that afflicts emergency workers on the job.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
On screen, Guitarrica’s expressive and angular visage conveys the fright and uncertainty that afflict his character, who is desperate for tenderness.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of afflict

Verb

Deloitte-run systems have been plagued by errors that can result in eligible people losing their health coverage, previous KFF Health News investigations have shown.

— Samantha Liss, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
The president used an antisemitic slur to defend Marshall’s history of suing patients for medical debt, a controversy that has plagued the incumbent senator in recent weeks.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of plague

Verb

Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.

— Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.

— Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of persecute

Verb

Mehra – director of 2016 pic Baar Baar Dekho and creator of Prime Video series Big Girls Don’t Cry – says that while Indian audiences are besieged by films and TV content right now, where Hunkkaar has cut through is in its subject matter.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Its largest medical center, Al-Shifa Hospital, was besieged, bombed, and raided, under false pretexts, resulting in hundreds of deaths inside.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of besiege

Verb

According to the suit, Jane Doe was beset by seven men while she was incapacitated by drugs and alcohol.

— Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
In McDonnell, his supporters say, the mayor has an honest and principled leader who has managed to steady a department beset by low morale, dwindling staffing levels and aging facilities.

— Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of beset

Browse Nearby Words

bedecks

bedevil

bedeviled

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Style

“Bedevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedevil. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bedevil

verb

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