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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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 victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.
—
Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Prendergast, whose team discovered the devilish bee in the area, said the sighting of the insect shows the importance of understanding bees before their habitats are destroyed.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Two places in particular, Darkroom and Pete’s Sunset Grille, are offering two different ways to party down in honor of the devilish holiday.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
The Hollywood actor’s devilish features and unmistakable crackling voice make for a pitch-perfect pair with Solnicki’s sardonic sensibility.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Prendergast, whose team discovered the devilish bee in the area, said the sighting of the insect shows the importance of understanding bees before their habitats are destroyed.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Two places in particular, Darkroom and Pete’s Sunset Grille, are offering two different ways to party down in honor of the devilish holiday.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
The Hollywood actor’s devilish features and unmistakable crackling voice make for a pitch-perfect pair with Solnicki’s sardonic sensibility.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilish
Adjective
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Commissioners dismissed the allegations related to donor information but found that Ellis had accepted excessive contributions.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
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The restrictions, known as a consent decree, were a result of a 2017 lawsuit over excessive use of solitary confinement and pepper spray on inmates.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The story follows an estranged son who returns to his remote village to care for his dying father, only to uncover that his bloodline is bound by an old pact with a demonic Djinn.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
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Into the mix for our podcasters are children’s nursery rhymes, playing them backwards, and getting unsettling demonic messages, which Tuason throws in with the continuing plotline of this couple’s pending terror.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Within your 3rd House of Local Community, mischievous Mercury combines with dark Pluto, turning conversations into truth-seeking moments that clarify trust and tighten details.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
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In House of the Dragon’s season 2 premiere, Aegon II brought him to a meeting where Jaehaerys II was mischievous and bored.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Engineers can test extreme scenarios without physical risk.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
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Research has shown that images of extreme violence can impact mental health, increasing symptoms of anxiety and depression.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The same sad and sinister menace occupying 1600 Penn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The character was previously only seen from behind or in close-ups of his hands petting his sinister white kitty.—
Sezin Devi Koehler,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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No one mourns the wicked, indeed.—
Erin Neil,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
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The film tells the true and twisted tale of a deceiver of land and folk, who, defying her birth as a woman, comported herself as a man and committed many a wicked deed.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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And there’s Harrison Ford, which is insane.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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But that’s an indictment of our insane world, not Roher’s filmmaking.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The 2026 Oscar nominations brought a ton of gasp-inducing moments—shocking inclusions, diabolical omissions, and plenty of tea leaves to read for awards season prognosticators.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
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Violet McGraw, known for playing the titular role in the M3GAN franchise, is set to lead a YA comedy feature in which her character is similarly protective of those close to her but in a slightly less diabolical way.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilish. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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