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
Perhaps most important, the chronic corruption and fragmentation bedeviling the Congolese security apparatus was never tackled, prompting its leaders to ally with abusive groups when confronted with threats.
—
Joshua Z. Walker, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
The charismatic, 46-year-old Moore would be a welcome respite for a party still bedeviled by Biden’s legacy-defining decision to seek reelection despite mental and physical acuity problems.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025
Israel may be on the cusp of ending an Iranian nuclear threat that has bedeviled it and the West for decades now.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 June 2025
But this year, Democrats doubt that the issues that bedeviled them four years ago — like post-pandemic learning loss, public school gender policies, or higher crime that got blamed on criminal justice reform — will be on the ballot again.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bedevil
Joshua Z. Walker, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
The charismatic, 46-year-old Moore would be a welcome respite for a party still bedeviled by Biden’s legacy-defining decision to seek reelection despite mental and physical acuity problems.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025
Israel may be on the cusp of ending an Iranian nuclear threat that has bedeviled it and the West for decades now.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 June 2025
But this year, Democrats doubt that the issues that bedeviled them four years ago — like post-pandemic learning loss, public school gender policies, or higher crime that got blamed on criminal justice reform — will be on the ballot again.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bedevil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedevil
Verb
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The risk and harms of AMD increase after age 65, but bright lights afflict younger people, too.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Aug. 2025
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The alleged shooter, 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, reportedly carried a three-page note with him that referred to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease that has afflicted athletes, and referenced a former NFL player, Terry Long, who died by suicide in 2005.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
29 July 2025
Verb
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No mysteries plagued Preller this summer as far as which Padres positions needed upgrades ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
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Microbes could be redesigned to remediate poisonous perchlorates that plague the soil, opening the way for Eden-like gardens across expanding oases, and releasing oxygen in the process to slowly build up the atmosphere.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In late-night filings Thursday, the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office pushed back on recent framing by Combs’ lawyers portraying him as persecuted.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
1 Aug. 2025
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Open Doors is a global Christian charity which supports and speaks up for Christians persecuted for their faith.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile experts have warned that famine could soon take hold of El-Fasher, a city in western Sudan that has been besieged for more than two years.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Trump and his team described the U.S. capital as besieged by chaos, and eager to be overrun by law enforcement.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Indonesia’s second-quarter growth unexpectedly accelerated to the fastest pace in two years, with exports and investment helping an economy that’s beset by weak loan growth and mass job losses in manufacturing.—
Grace Sihombing,
Fortune,
5 Aug. 2025
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We are beset by panhandlers, shouted at by unstable wanderers, and forced to abandon our own plans to the claims of others who have made public places theirs exclusively.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bedevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedevil. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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