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 Algol relates to the Arabic al-ghül, which signifies demon or ghoul. — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026 But Jesus eventually heals the man and casts the demons into a herd of pigs, which tumble over a cliff and drown. — John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 Whether the Ohio Derby victor can pull off a letter-perfect speed-demon upset remains Chip Honcho’s question. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The show followed Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, as a high school student who also saves the world from vampires and demons. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 July 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
  • Gradually, Shaban becomes a ghost of himself, in what comes to feel like a natural outcome in a society where a man’s value can be calculated down to the very last cent.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
  • No manufacturer wants a multimillion-dollar jet sitting on the tarmac awaiting chairs or flying across the Atlantic carrying ghost suites.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of ghost
Noun
  • Sochor confessed to the crime, but her body has never been found − still a torment to her family.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • By homing in on the psychological torment of winning the crown, the show offers a surprising detour from familiar carnage—while suggesting that disappointment over a seemingly ideal position can be as crushing as a defeat on the battlefield.
    — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026
Definition of torment
Noun
  • Practicality Viewers know Walton Goggins’ Cooper Howard as a ghoul because of radiation from a bomb dropped in 2077.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Algol relates to the Arabic al-ghül, which signifies demon or ghoul.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of ghoul
Noun
  • The official did not provide further details on the alleged association with terror organizations.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • An experience that demands the big screen, featuring even more astounding effects choreography than its predecessor, Godzilla Minus Zero cranks up the terror while always keeping its post-WWII Japan narrative at human eye level.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of terror
Noun
  • Throughout the movie, two mentors stand over each of his shoulders like an aproned angel and devil.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • There’s also a devil, all too ready to perch on his other shoulder, too.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of devil
Noun
  • Bedbugs are sometimes called the vampires of the insect world — hiding during the day and coming out at night to feast on human blood.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Critics and audiences alike went gaga over Sam Reid’s glammed-out turn as a bloodthirsty vampire gone rock star in AMC’s The Vampire Lestat.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of vampire
Noun
  • But when strange, dangerous things begin to happen to the sleeping clientele, Penny must uncover the mystery before the nightmare spreads beyond the store.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Practicing football with a two-foot-long, deadly snake inside your helmet is the stuff of nightmares.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on demon

Nglish: Translation of demon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about demon

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