Definition of devilishnext
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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of devilish 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 So now my son is doing his version of all that, which is kind of funny to be talking about, like this big devilish fish. Marah Eakin, Vulture, 14 May 2026 The foundational mythic story of bluesman Robert Johnson arriving at a crossroads and giving his soul to the devil in return for some devilish guitar licks has spawned many a play. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026 During the film’s New York City premiere, Hathaway wore a devilish satin red gown. Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for devilish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilish
Adjective
  • Last month, six women interviewed by the Times described concerning behavior by Platner, including excessive drinking, infidelity, and, in one account, physical intimidation.
    Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Black residents of the city have expressed fear of harassment and concerns about trading high crime for excessive policing.
    Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • The devil invades a Georgetown home, and holy men have quite the job to do on a demonic little girl.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Carlson has spoken of his own brush with demonic forces, who left him bloodied and scratched in the night, while his wife and their four spaniels slept undisturbed.
    Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Advertisement Best of all is Deutch’s Gail, whose sunbeam demeanor barely conceals her flirty, mischievous side.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
  • The actress, 64, made her mark on the iconic ‘70s show as Nellie Oleson, Laura Ingalls’ mischievous classmate.
    Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • In his view, that defiance forced the GOP to take extreme measures and go it alone.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 12 July 2026
  • Still, many labor for long hours in extreme heat without shade, without reliable access to clean water, and without the basic protections most Floridians take for granted.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Adjective
  • Dorothea centers on a Sacramento woman (Davis) who ran a boarding house for the less fortunate in the 1980s, but her seemingly benevolent actions belied her sinister motives.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 July 2026
  • The score drips with a sinister ostinato as the rats scurry into every corner of her castle.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • Soon a wicked stepmother named Elvera and her brood came into the Jones family’s life.
    Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026
  • Yamal was a thorn in Saudi Arabia’s side, drifting infield to unleash shots from distance but also peppering the penalty area with wicked deliveries from the right flank.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • England’s 2-1 victory against Mexico — and that insane Azteca Stadium crowd — also was richly deserved.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Allowing Trump to declare insane levels of tariffs would have been really bad for the economy and bad for Republicans.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • When Ahab first speaks to the crew about Moby Dick, his diabolical charisma soon infects the men who, apart from Starbuck, enthusiastically join him in his monomaniacal crusade.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • From perhaps the most diabolical spot on the entire course.
    Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilish. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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