1
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
that's a devilish amount of bad luck for any person to have to endure
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in demonic
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit
a devilish plan to sabotage the other party's political convention
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3
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a devilish grin that told us he was up to something
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devilish
The star was the female lead, Elena Gilbert, in the series, and also doubled as the devilish Katherine Pierce.
—
Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Their faces are devilish in the firelight, the shadows bringing out the angles, the lines of their cheekbones.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
The University of Hong Kong Business School reported that K-pop girl-group Blackpink’s Lisa, a Thai national, posted the devilish doll on Instagram, which caught the attention of a Thai princess; Labubu even became Thailand’s official tourism ambassador.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 20 Aug. 2025
This isn’t the first time devilish footwear has generated headlines.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Their faces are devilish in the firelight, the shadows bringing out the angles, the lines of their cheekbones.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
The University of Hong Kong Business School reported that K-pop girl-group Blackpink’s Lisa, a Thai national, posted the devilish doll on Instagram, which caught the attention of a Thai princess; Labubu even became Thailand’s official tourism ambassador.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 20 Aug. 2025
This isn’t the first time devilish footwear has generated headlines.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilish
Adjective
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There was excessive growth of microtubules that wasn’t caused by an increase in gene activity, but likely due to the cells failing to clear away old or misfolded proteins.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Nov. 2025
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But Walpole’s excitement was curbed when they were flagged for excessive celebration.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Two shows – Beetlejuice and Waiting For Godot – closed last week, with the demonic musical posting a big $311,282 gain over the previous week, taking in $1,373,691 and selling 96% of its seats.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
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Twin Peaks is a world rife with magic and mystery, filled with demonic possessions, time travel, parallel dimensions, and ritual sacrifice.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Burnett pauses, considers the question, and then flashes a mischievous grin.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
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Dave, feeling mischievous, ushered them towards a window seat and what, on the face of it, seemed a prime spot.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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An extreme cold watch is issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Here, sea level rise is accelerating at some of the most extreme rates on Earth, while hurricanes increasingly are swirling ashore with an unprecedented ferociousness.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But as old tensions flare between them, Katie begins to experience terrifying visions and a ghostly presence warning of something sinister lurking aboard.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
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Which casts a show seemingly designed to bypass all judgments with respect to storytelling and taste, gliding straight to the pleasure center of some imaginary horny, enraged, shopaholic feminine id, in a fairly sinister light.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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With the launch of the Culling Game in the aftermath, 10 colonies from across Japan are transformed into dens of curses as part of a plot orchestrated by the most wicked sorcerer in history, Noritoshi Kamo.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
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The rhymes are wicked smart, clever and memorable.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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His votes, like his tattoos, just weren’t insane enough anymore.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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His voice messages of songs are amazing and insane.—
Kristin Robinson,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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That, to me, was the simplest and the most diabolical part of the story.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
30 Dec. 2025
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In this diabolical satirical thriller, a millennial woman resorts to extreme measures to secure the million-dollar house of her dreams.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilish. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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