as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
the children always concoct some sort of devilishness on Halloween
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilishness
Noun
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Akin to interactive auto-fiction, this first-person adventure deftly folds early life details about one of its makers, Julián Cordero, into a game about mischief-making in dusty parks.—
Lewis Gordon,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025 -
They have been charged with loitering and prowling, and one teen was also charged with criminal mischief due to property damage.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
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While this might rankle a certain type of science fiction reader who expects rigorous world building and a straightforward plot, Unferth’s playfulness injects new life into some trusty old tropes that have calcified into clichés.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Yet despite the playfulness of the brand, this is very serious liquid.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
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Social media users can’t get enough of Chico’s antics, as many lauded his mischievousness.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Soon, the America’s Got Talent stage descended into pure chaos, with Cowell and Mandel showcasing their innate mischievousness before the latter turned his attention toward his fellow judges.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Besides, Chrishell should be glad that Nicole’s wickedness is so blatant.—
Anne Victoria Clark,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
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Romanticism planted the seed, turning wickedness from an external contagion into an inward condition.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
27 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Devilishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilishness. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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