variants
or devilling
as in tormenting
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviling
Verb
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Rumor has it that Steve Spurrier could be the favorite, which would be hilarious given Spurrier's history of tormenting the Vols.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026 -
But the man hung himself, most likely due to Duncan tormenting him relentlessly like a jock pranking a nerd in an ‘80s campus comedy.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
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Behind the story One of the really big stories on my beat covering China for the last decade has been Beijing's intensive ramp-up in detaining and persecuting Uyghurs, a primarily Muslim ethnic minority.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Elizabeth continues to be an infuriating character, interrupting with rude and unhelpful asides throughout the entire family meeting, casually gnawing on an orange slice as Greg and Katie have a heart-to-heart across the table.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
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Pastor John Mark Comer has won a massive audience by encouraging his followers to free themselves from the gnawing sense that there is always more to do, Nancy Walecki writes.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But they haven’t been observed directly helping with the long security lines bedeviling passengers and their Department of Homeland Security colleagues in the Transportation Security Administration.—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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In a joint interview with the Chronicle, Uzelac and Executive Director Jennifer Delacroix blamed the cancellation on factors bedeviling many performing arts companies struggling to recover from the pandemic.—
Theater Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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McCarty said, riling up the crowd.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
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Isaacman made the comments while endorsing a proposal to halve NASA's science budget, riling some astronomers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Verb
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No bins or baskets, just raw-dogging it up there (for lack of a better phrase).—
Tessa Petak,
InStyle,
30 May 2026
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But its relative youth and iconic mascot have not shielded the brand from many of the same issues dogging the company’s older brands, such as Maxwell House and Philadelphia.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Until these vexing unknowns are figured out, AI for mental health will be in an uneasy position and subject to strident criticisms and concerns.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Gray said the strikeout issue has been vexing, but he was encouraged by Wednesday’s progress.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The Herald has learned Council President Liz Breadon visited councilors individually during the recess to ask them to push off the budget vote, rankling Weber, who had recommended a favorable vote take place at the day’s session.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
3 June 2026
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The actress, producer and book club founder took to social media to speak out about leaning in to artificial intelligence, rankling some of her followers in the process.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Deviling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviling. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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