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
Visit our website Demographic concentration bedevils the goal of integration.
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Ray Domanico, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026
These questions will be tough, likely impossible, to answer to everyone's satisfaction — and several have bedeviled lawmakers, and Iowans, before.
—Rachel E. Stassen-Berger, Des Moines Register, 8 Jan. 2026
This is just the latest in a string of shellfish heists bedeviling the Northeast where lobster, crabs, and oysters have gone missing in recent weeks.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
Daniel Cole/Reuters Hiring slowed in November, resuming sluggish performance that has bedeviled the labor market for much of this year and elicited a series of interest rate cuts, a fresh jobs report on Tuesday showed.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bedevil
Ray Domanico, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026
These questions will be tough, likely impossible, to answer to everyone's satisfaction — and several have bedeviled lawmakers, and Iowans, before.
—Rachel E. Stassen-Berger, Des Moines Register, 8 Jan. 2026
This is just the latest in a string of shellfish heists bedeviling the Northeast where lobster, crabs, and oysters have gone missing in recent weeks.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
Daniel Cole/Reuters Hiring slowed in November, resuming sluggish performance that has bedeviled the labor market for much of this year and elicited a series of interest rate cuts, a fresh jobs report on Tuesday showed.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bedevil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedevil
Verb
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At least 32 deaths have been reported in states afflicted with severe cold, including two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents that killed teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow in Kansas.—
Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
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At least 30 deaths have been reported in states afflicted with severe cold, including two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents that killed teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow in Kansas.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But for decades, sections of it have been plagued by the dumping of toxic chemicals and untreated sewage.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
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This has gradually caused difficulties in living her own life as she is plagued with violent memories.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Open Doors is a global Christian charity supporting Christians persecuted for their faith.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
28 Dec. 2025
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Most commonly, people felt they were being persecuted via their electronics – that their Wi-Fi networks, computers or cellphones had been hacked or implanted with tracking devices.—
Alaina Vandervoort Burns,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The Windy City is suddenly besieged by a string of bomb threats, but in the midst of all the false alarms, a real situation emerges in the form of military-grade smoke grenades, which points to a terrorist threat.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
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Halladay said she’s heard from multiple doctors, including her child’s pediatrician, that they’ve been besieged with calls from parents hoping to get a prescription.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Behind the scenes, however, multiple sources say the game was beset by logistical and financial issues, including difficulties in securing corporate sponsors and a television partner—and, ultimately, paying at least one of the teams.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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On this occasion, Arsenal’s team and fans became equally beset by nerves — a vicious cycle of anxiety that sucked the life (and the noise) out of the Emirates Stadium.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bedevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedevil. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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