Synonyms of devilish

devilish

adjective

ˈde-vᵊl-ish 

1

as in demonic

of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit

a devilish plan to sabotage the other party's political convention

Synonyms & Similar Words

• demonic
• sinister
• diabolical
• malicious
• satanic
• fiendish
• demoniac
• wicked
• evil
• Luciferian
• vicious
• infernal
• ferocious
• cruel
• hellish
• malignant
• demonian
• malevolent
• savage
• cacodemonic
• heinous
• vile
• nefarious
• villainous
• monstrous
• iniquitous
• baleful
• immoral
• barbarous
• inhuman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• angelic
• heavenly
• celestial
• benign
• benevolent
• beneficent
• holy
• saintly
• godly
• good
• moral
• virtuous
• righteous
• ethical
• benignant
• sainted

2

as in mischievous

tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness

a devilish grin that told us he was up to something

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mischievous
• wicked
• playful
• impish
• rascally
• roguish
• knavish
• sly
• naughty
• prankish
• waggish
• puckish
• pixie
• pixieish
• tricksy
• elvish
• cunning
• happy
• arch
• scampish
• leprechaunish
• espiègle
• lively
• whimsical
• coy
• kittenish
• teasing
• sportful
• wily
• frisky
• sportive
• antic
• lighthearted
• crafty
• spirited
• frolicsome
• coltish
• sprightly
• energetic
• tricky
• artful
• troublemaking
• gay
• trickish
• misbehaving
• pestering
• riling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• grave
• solemn
• grim
• stern
• sober
• sedate
• staid

3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excessive
• extreme
• insane
• steep
• extravagant
• infinite
• lavish
• endless
• fancy
• over-the-top
• baroque
• inordinate
• undue
• intolerable
• immoderate
• unmerciful
• unconscionable
• exorbitant
• unbearable
• inappropriate
• towering
• stiff
• overweening
• plethoric
• overmuch
• overextravagant
• improper
• boundless
• overdue
• limitless
• unseemly
• a bit much
• immeasurable
• unjustifiable
• unwarranted
• thick
• unrestrained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• moderate
• modest
• inadequate
• insufficient
• deficient
• temperate
• middling
• minimal
• minimum

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of devilish

Too little regulation could allow the unleashing of devilish AI that might wipe us out or at least be horrendously destructive. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Even featuring wider fairways than in previous years, some forecasted winds and devilish green complexes should combine to once again mystify the game’s best players. — Jason Sobel, New York Times, 17 June 2026

Ari Millen is the devilish titular character offering kids sweet delights with horrifying results in the trailer for Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man, which dropped on Wednesday. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026

Sealed by consuming a mushroom that sprung from the snowy, barren land (as seen in last week’s episode), Richard’s devilish pact cursed Widow’s Bay for the foreseeable future, binding all those born on it to its grounds — those who try to leave face immediate death beyond its watery borders. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 27 May 2026