variants
or daemons
1
as in ghosts
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 terrors
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
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Recent Examples of demons
Rather than rob the story of its teeth, this enabled me to explore the pain, loneliness and personal demons of my characters with sympathy rather than stinging bite.
—
Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
When their biggest demonic enemy (Lee Byung-hun) encourages the formation of an equally popular K-pop boy band aimed at stealing the souls of their fans, the trio has to fight harder than ever to hold the demons at bay while keeping their friendship intact.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
In the film, they’re forced to square off against a rival boy band called the Saja Boys, who are also secretly demons.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
To combat them, the demons form their own rival K-pop boy band, dubbed the Saja Boys, to steal their fans and gobble up their souls for their demon master.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
His road movie account of an American artist who moves quickly from a career as a stripper to would-be boxer to writer/musician while literally (in her view) fighting off demons, was challenging to capture, especially working solo with a handheld camera.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
There was a distinct set of tales dealing with demons who collected idle chatter in churches, and, over time, these stories were folded into the expanding legend of Tutivillus.
—JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Yep, demons are real, and this trail camera photo proves it.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Despite their differences, which there have been many between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf discourse, Mickelson reacted to seeing McIlroy finally conquer his demons at Augusta National.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
When their biggest demonic enemy (Lee Byung-hun) encourages the formation of an equally popular K-pop boy band aimed at stealing the souls of their fans, the trio has to fight harder than ever to hold the demons at bay while keeping their friendship intact.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
In the film, they’re forced to square off against a rival boy band called the Saja Boys, who are also secretly demons.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
To combat them, the demons form their own rival K-pop boy band, dubbed the Saja Boys, to steal their fans and gobble up their souls for their demon master.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
His road movie account of an American artist who moves quickly from a career as a stripper to would-be boxer to writer/musician while literally (in her view) fighting off demons, was challenging to capture, especially working solo with a handheld camera.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
There was a distinct set of tales dealing with demons who collected idle chatter in churches, and, over time, these stories were folded into the expanding legend of Tutivillus.
—JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Yep, demons are real, and this trail camera photo proves it.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Despite their differences, which there have been many between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf discourse, Mickelson reacted to seeing McIlroy finally conquer his demons at Augusta National.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demons
Noun
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These ghosts, which take the form of their dead friends, are mostly just goofy, with the shoddy special effects and glowy auras giving the whole thing a distinctly Haunted Mansion vibe; critically, the threat never feels real, which undermines any tension.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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The ghosts of a 37-0 shutout to Iowa less than a month ago still lingered — the boos that faded into silence, the homecoming crowd that emptied before the fourth quarter, the scoreboard stuck on humiliation.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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As with many of A24's horror movies, we're left to ponder whether anything supernatural happens as Maud's quest reaches its apotheosis, proving that fanatical belief is enough to inspire great terrors.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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The internet gives us more opportunity to be exposed to noteworthy terrors from other countries.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Its depictions of dancing devils and witches’ sabbaths are supposed to scare viewers straight, but writer-director Benjamin Christensen is also sympathetic towards the plight of medieval women persecuted for witchcraft.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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The anime series follows a young man who can demolish fellow devils via a pullstring in his chest that transforms parts of his body into chainsaws.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Scream With Me expands on this argument with its analysis of The Exorcist, a movie that Johnson interprets as a parable about physical abuse; its male demon torments and beats a single working mother and her child.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For centuries, a peace treaty between humans and the Black World — which houses all manner of witches, demons, and ghouls — has been in place to ensure separation between the two factions.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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Participants are encouraged to come dressed as ghosts, ghouls, vampires, witches or pop culture characters.—
Marcus Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
On the previous episode, the stars danced spooky routines as ghosts, zombies, vampires and more for Halloween Night.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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Bound to the service of the Hellsing Organization, Alucard fights against fellow vampires, a crusading faction of the Vatican called the Iscariot Organization, and wannabe Nazis alongside his allies Seres Victoria and Integra Hellsing.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The 40th release, however, marks the first time the brand has ever released a tequila—an extra añejo blend put together by a leading name in the agave spirits industry.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
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Cushla’s world is full of defiant spirits, including her mother, a woman struggling with addiction who spends most of her days bound to her living room and the bottom of a bottle.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But the people who love it have put it back together strong enough that a century of decay, the weather, ownership changes, cultural shifts, funding nightmares and a deadly virus couldn't strike the death blow.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
9 Nov. 2025
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Her mother, Amirah Sharhan, has said the traumatic assault has caused her daughter emotional distress, including nightmares and a fear of strangers.—
Detroit Free Press,
Freep.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demons. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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