variants
or deviltry
1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
children always getting into some devilry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in witchcraft
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means
superstitious villagers who were quick to attribute an unexpected occurrence to devilry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devilry
Madcap technical devilry, along with a jestful sense of humor, embroiders the edges of his endlessly replayable mix.
—
Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
Dancing spirits, dressed in Victorian-era garb, stir up devilry as the night unfolds.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
Maybe, Nicholas comes to think, what bedevils him is not a medical condition—the sort of thing a physician can properly diagnose—but the devilry of Pan.
—Scott Stossel, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
As shown in his previous films, Eggers’ sensibility has roots not in contemporary horror but in stories from centuries past that become vivid and febrile, alive with an insidious devilry that inches under your skin.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Dec. 2024
That’s enough devilry to explain at least much of Haiti’s challenges without resorting to tales of satanic influence.
—Matthew Brown, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
Shyamalan, to be fair, has lost none of his compositional devilry; notice his bisecting of the screen with clean vertical lines—the trunk of a tree, or the edge of a shower curtain, behind which somebody may or may not lurk.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2023
Suddenly, modernists were jockeying to impose some glass-and-steel devilry atop the old dame.
—Shawn McCreesh, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2021
Before long, the angry and injured young wife is the one on trial for witchcraft — fighting for her life as the apparent evidence of devilry accrues.
—BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2021
Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
Dancing spirits, dressed in Victorian-era garb, stir up devilry as the night unfolds.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
Maybe, Nicholas comes to think, what bedevils him is not a medical condition—the sort of thing a physician can properly diagnose—but the devilry of Pan.
—Scott Stossel, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
As shown in his previous films, Eggers’ sensibility has roots not in contemporary horror but in stories from centuries past that become vivid and febrile, alive with an insidious devilry that inches under your skin.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Dec. 2024
That’s enough devilry to explain at least much of Haiti’s challenges without resorting to tales of satanic influence.
—Matthew Brown, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
Shyamalan, to be fair, has lost none of his compositional devilry; notice his bisecting of the screen with clean vertical lines—the trunk of a tree, or the edge of a shower curtain, behind which somebody may or may not lurk.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2023
Suddenly, modernists were jockeying to impose some glass-and-steel devilry atop the old dame.
—Shawn McCreesh, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2021
Before long, the angry and injured young wife is the one on trial for witchcraft — fighting for her life as the apparent evidence of devilry accrues.
—BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilry
Noun
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Texas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property.—
NPR,
NPR,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Best known for her breakout role as Devi in Netflix’s Never Have I Ever, Ramakrishnan steps into a new kind of chaos here — one filled with magical animals and over-the-top mischief.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Amy had been practicing—or attempting to practice—witchcraft.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Instead of Zendaya’s Mary-Jane and Jacob Batalon’s Ned, Peter’s new friends are influencer Harry Osborn (Zeno Robinson) and secret witchcraft user Nico Minoru (Grace Song).—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
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
-
Game of Thrones‘ upcoming prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place 100 years before the events of the original series, in a Westeros where sorcery and dragons are a thing of the past.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
11 Oct. 2025
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In this Fixed sign, Mars’ sorcery is much like a surgeon or a chemist, cutting deep to unveil what’s lingering beneath the surface.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
5 Feb. 2025
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But even if truffles are beyond your pay grade, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in the sheer devilment portrayed in this informative and appetizing book.—
Eugenia Bone,
WSJ,
10 July 2019
Noun
-
This is the cursed object that shows up at the Smurls, though the actual conjuring mirror – long a mainstay in the Warrens' Occult Museum, alongside the infamous Annabelle – was obtained from a man in New Jersey.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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Indeed, Absolutely was a project of divination, of spiritual conjuring.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Last but not least is a 12-week-old dog named Sunny, who has truly leaned into the naughtiness of being a puppy.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Ready to let the humble-yet-mighty brown work its magic in your wardrobe this fall?—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
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But the real magic comes from strategically arranging guests to spark conversations.—
Editors of Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devilry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilry. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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