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
Below, Park gets into the devilish debauchery of Mary Todd Lincoln.
—
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Both of the above are essential to the show’s endgame, ensuring that a sequence of unhinged kickers ostensibly meant to be devilish fun instead come across as mean-spirited and exploitative.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
And the drinks really are devilish good.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
One devilish regime cracks with Maduro’s capture; gratuitous, imperial profiteering must not be allowed to empower another.
—Anthony Dominguez, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Both of the above are essential to the show’s endgame, ensuring that a sequence of unhinged kickers ostensibly meant to be devilish fun instead come across as mean-spirited and exploitative.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
And the drinks really are devilish good.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
One devilish regime cracks with Maduro’s capture; gratuitous, imperial profiteering must not be allowed to empower another.
—Anthony Dominguez, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilish
Adjective
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While regular coffee consumption has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, excessive coffee intake may have the opposite effect.—
Brittany Lubeck,
Verywell Health,
5 Mar. 2026
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Google is using this method to help developers optimize their apps, as no one wants their service to cause excessive battery drain.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Part of the ensemble stands supernaturally perched over this crimson room, elevated, like a biblical cloud of witnesses gathered to watch the beginning of this slightly demonic fable.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
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There are bodily fluids, jeering crowds, and demonic Punch and Judy puppets applauding through the chaos, giving the scene the air of a demented fairy tale.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Your 5th House of Discovery brightens as mischievous Mercury conjoins the life-giving Sun.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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But of course, the mischievous Cat in the Hat can only save the day in typical Seussian fashion.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Despite extreme market volatility last year – especially in the spring of 2025 – the average 401(k) balance rose by 11% to $146,100, according to new data from Fidelity Investments, which analyzed nearly 25 million accounts.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
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Hypersonic systems must endure extreme heat and stress.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The murders themselves are obviously very sinister, but the circumstances surrounding them undermine the show’s drama and lean toward the absurd.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
3 Mar. 2026
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But the updraft that struck Flight SQ321 was of a more sinister sort.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Coming off a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight, the Blue Devils started 3-6 against a wicked nonconference schedule as the headliner in the conference’s bumpy overall start.—
Aaron Beard,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
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Hamas is a wicked organization.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If he was convicted, a jury would then have to decide whether Abril was insane when the park shooting occurred.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
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Like, dude, the views from the top are insane.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The death of medieval theocratic dictator of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei--a diabolical fanatic who pursued nuclear weapons--is a moment of celebration.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
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The full acting out of a specific high-school-production version of Wendy was absolutely diabolical.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilish. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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