deviling

verb

variants or devilling
present participle of devil
as in tormenting

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviling
  1. tormenting
  2. persecuting
  3. gnawing
  4. bedeviling
  5. riling
  6. dogging
  7. vexing
  8. rankling
Verb
  • Aside from tormenting the sole out transgender member of Congress by waging a campaign to bar her from using the women’s bathroom in the Capitol, Mace had been a side player that year.
    — Annie Karni, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The final scene shows the Bowden family grilling in that same backyard on a sunny day, seemingly happy with Max no longer tormenting them.
    — Benjamin VanHoose, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of tormenting
Verb
  • Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
    — Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
Definition of persecuting
Verb
  • Their feeding can cause plants to wilt or die, and gnawing around the base of woody plants can be particularly damaging.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The openness was in stark contrast to the defensive, tactical precision and gnawing tension that make the matches surrounding this one so captivating, but which can stifle some of sport’s beauty and brilliance.
    — Sergio Gonzalez, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of gnawing
Verb
  • Indeed, Ukrainian strikes on oil infrastructure have created major gas shortages that are bedeviling much of the Russian hinterland.
    — Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 30 June 2026
  • Auto loan delinquencies are at a record high Credit cards aren’t the only category of debt bedeviling American consumers.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Definition of bedeviling
Verb
  • The proposal, which is currently out to public consultation, appears to be riling everyone from ordinary pub-goers to residents of 10 Downing Street.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Mbappé, who scored on a penalty in the 70th minute, was riling up the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia following France’s 1-0 victory in the Round of 16.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of riling
Verb
  • Investors have been ratcheting up their expectations for the industry as some companies hike their outlooks and get a better handle on rising medical costs in those plans – an issue that has been dogging the broader sector for more than two years.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 29 July 2026
  • There is a new solution to a problem that's been dogging the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
    — Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of dogging
Verb
  • This scene among the pines and mountains of a small central Vermont town reveals how Plainfield, with a population of nearly 1,000 people, is finding a way to solve a problem vexing communities across the United States.
    — Olivia Fletcher, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Medical schools, though, are facing a vexing quandary over AI scribes.
    — Lauren Chan, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of vexing
Verb
  • The Herald has learned Council President Liz Breadon visited councilors individually during the recess to ask them to push off the budget vote, rankling Weber, who had recommended a favorable vote take place at the day’s session.
    — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
  • The actress, producer and book club founder took to social media to speak out about leaning in to artificial intelligence, rankling some of her followers in the process.
    — Anika Reed, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of rankling
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.

Browse Nearby Words

devilfishes
deviling
devilish
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Cite this Entry

“Deviling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviling. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of deviling for Spanish Speakers

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