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demon

noun

ˈdē-mən How to pronounce demon (audio)
variants or daemon
Definition of demonnext
1
as in ghost
an evil spirit only in rare cases is the ancient rite of exorcism performed to cast out a troublesome demon

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in torment
a source of persistent emotional distress a man who was finally able to conquer his demons and kick his drug habit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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 demon Though Pachinko featured more angels than demons, Lee still convincingly inhabited Koh Hansu, the gangster and groomer. — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026 Unlike other Mesopotamian demons, who can act only on the orders of the greater gods, Lamashtu can act entirely on her own. — Eleanor Johnson, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 Accusers have labeled him a narcissist, a monster, and a demon. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 In July, the Braves took three of four from the Padres at Truist Park and seemed to exorcise some old demons against the Brown and Gold. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for demon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demon
  1. ghost
  2. torment
  3. ghoul
  4. terror
  5. devil
  6. vampire
  7. nightmare
Noun
  • Swift is a ghost of girlfriends past haunting Johnson in the video, sleeping in bed next to her, knocking drinks over to warn her to leave her ominous partner.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • What in the zeitgeist lends itself to this burgeoning fascination with ghosts and the afterlife?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of ghost
Noun
  • But sequences in the film that show his inner torment serve an important purpose, says Primetime editor Daniel Garber.
    — Samantha Bergeson, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026
  • His wife later told the priest that her husband had felt relief for a few days, but that the real cause of his torment had probably been a brain tumor.
    — David Owen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of torment
Noun
  • At once not quite real and all too real, Cohn has the uncanny presence of a ghoul or a fiend.
    — Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Gemma even winds up having to give a teeth cleaning to one of the silent, creepy ghouls pursuing her.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of ghoul
Noun
  • Over its 1,200 pages, the novel becomes a haunting of a haunting, a terror echoed and heightened over time.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The titular musical is a recounting of the 9/11 terror attacks, with original music and cardboard Twin Towers ablaze.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of terror
Noun
  • Dostoyevsky’s sniveling devil comes closest to portraying the man chiefly responsible for organizing the Final Solution.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In January, Watts was a guest on actor Rainn Wilson’s podcast, where Watts played devil’s advocate to Wilson’s skeptic about casual use of mind-altering substances.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of devil
Noun
  • Novelist and screenwriter Anne Rice led the charge against Cruise’s casting as Lestat de Lioncourt, a French theater actor in the 1700s who’d already become an immortal vampire by the time he’s introduced.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Here, Martha uses small white pumpkins to create fanged vampire and winged pat pumpkins.
    — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of vampire
Noun
  • The exhibition puts designer Pierre-Olivier Persin’s bust of the creature alongside the syringes, vials and other medical paraphernalia from the mysterious Substance kit that sets the movie’s nightmare in motion.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Watching a cheesy sitcom opening turn into a bloody field day for a time-traveling serial killer or unedited footage of a bear turn into a pharmaceutical nightmare is the ultimate expression of that unapologetic commitment to keeping us on our toes.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of nightmare

Browse Nearby Words

demolitions
demon
demonetize
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Cite this Entry

“Demon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demon. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on demon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about demon

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