demon

1 an evil spirit only in rare cases is the ancient rite of exorcism performed to cast out a troublesome demon Synonyms cacodemon, devil, fiend, ghost, ghoul, ghoulie, imp, shaitan Related Words hag [archaic], lamia, vampire; incubus, nightmare, succubus; afreet (or afrit), genie, jinni (or jinn also djinni or djinn); apparition, banshee, bogey (also bogie or bogy), bugbear, familiar, familiar spirit, genius, phantasm (also fantasm), phantom, poltergeist, shade, shadow, specter (or spectre), spirit, spook, vision, wraith; brownie, dwarf, elf, faerie (also faery), fairy, fay, gnome, goblin, gremlin, hobgoblin, kobold, leprechaun, pixie (also pixy), puck, sprite, troll; monster, ogre Near Antonyms angel

2 a source of persistent emotional distress a man who was finally able to conquer his demons and kick his drug habit Synonyms affliction, hang-up, terror, torment Related Words bête noire, bogey (also bogie or bogy), bugaboo, bugbear, hobgoblin, ogre