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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Losses from cattle afflicted by the parasite could run into the billions of dollars, with larger effects across the American economy, according to USDA estimates.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
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The incursion was the latest in a litany of drone incidents — from both Russia and Ukraine — to afflict NATO member states and leave the 32-member trans-Atlantic organization on edge, drawing strong condemnation from Romania’s allies.—
Stephen McGrath,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Yet that weariness doesn’t plague the music itself.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2026
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President Joe Biden's legacy is plagued by communication issues.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The Lieser family of Jewish industrialists was persecuted by the Nazis, including being imprisoned, and lost almost all their possessions to Nazi seizure.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
5 June 2026
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Family members and friends were persecuted, arrested, and killed.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Tony season in New York is a veritable marathon for theater-folk, who are besieged by invites to countless classy events in succession.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
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Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria.—
Helaine Williams,
Arkansas Online,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Our new weekly newsletter, Fortune Gulf Brief, will bring you the smartest coverage of the region, beset now by geopolitical volatility but still one of the most exciting and business-consequential regions in the world.—
Alyson Shontell,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
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On the other side, De la Espriella has promised to fiercely crack down on criminal groups and build 10 megaprisons, following in a similar vein as El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, in his war on gangs, which has been beset by abuses, according to findings by human rights groups.—
Megan Janetsky,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bedevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedevil. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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