variants
or devilling
as in tormenting
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviling
Verb
-
Known for his brash comedic style, the British actor seems tailor-made for the part of the bearded bully who delights in tormenting everyone around him — especially his wife.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025 -
By 2016, the Penguins had been tormenting the Capitals with playoff comebacks for decades, and Sidney Crosby was pulling away in his rivalry with Alexander Ovechkin.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The former human-rights lawyer entered on a tourist visa and filed for political asylum in October of that year, claiming the governments that succeeded Correa were persecuting him.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
For 25 years, Chavism has co-opted Venezuela's infrastructure for its own enrichment, persecuting journalists and opposition, wrecking the economy, and leaving its citizens in poverty.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There came a moment—probably before the husband dragged the child, gnawing on his gloved hand, through attic insulation—when things shifted like a plank laying across a fulcrum, weight placed on one end.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Yet the techno-optimism sweeping the production community is accompanied by a gnawing anxiety about the way established IP is at risk of being ripped off and remixed.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There is a gaping hole in weather balloon coverage in western Alaska — a critical shortage bedeviling US forecasts and the National Weather Service since layoffs hit the agency as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s push to shrink the federal government back in February.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The argument isn’t without merit – since ESPN already has rights to these clips there isn’t much of the copyright concern bedeviling its parent company.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Jaxson de Ville is riling up supporters via pub crawl.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Officials like Bongino are in the awkward position of backtracking after years of highlighting the case and lobbying for the release of information from the sidelines — riling up their viewers and supporters in the process.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
The business software maker on Wednesday unveiled an optimistic, multiyear financial roadmap that rejects the sluggish-growth narrative that has been dogging the stock.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Already, productivity declines are dogging the industry.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There were vexing penalties among the Eagles’ nine infractions.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Sluggish consumption, a manufacturing glut and prolonged woes in the country’s vast property sector are among the main challenges now vexing Beijing policymakers and businesses.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trump's administration has come under intense criticism over its handling of records related to the case, rankling many leading voices within the MAGA-sphere.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Matthew quickly schemes his way into Oliver’s orbit after that first performance, impressing and rankling the group of lackeys in his entourage at the same time.—
Eric Torres,
Pitchfork,
27 Aug. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Deviling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviling. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share