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diablerie

noun

dē-ˈä-blə-(ˌ)rē How to pronounce diablerie (audio)
Definition of diablerienext
1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm the boy, who was once filled with diablerie, grew up to be a staid and rather dull man

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sorcery
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means since the common folk had an unshakable belief in a personal devil, a charge of diablerie was taken seriously

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 diablerie Other scholars, however, downplay the book’s diablerie, viewing the Pequod’s captain instead as an admirably heroic overreacher or a latter-day Prometheus facing down the gods, fate, the uncaring universe. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 Groyperism is as much about fandom and diablerie as a set of principles. — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diablerie
  1. mischief
  2. sorcery
  3. playfulness
  4. witchcraft
  5. devilment
  6. magic
  7. rascality
  8. wickedness
Noun
  • Thankfully Norton didn’t just avoid doing himself a mischief, but won the competition by staying on the the longest.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Monster recasts Abby, played with wonderful mischief by Rebecca Hall, as a bitter woman on the brink.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of mischief
Noun
  • Now, the sorcery of the dance floor is that this is never happening to only one dancer.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • After graduating, Papadopoulos took classes at Hunter College, bonding with classmates over sword and sorcery movies.
    — Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of sorcery
Noun
  • By ditching all-wheel drive for pure rear-wheel drive, VW is hoping driving dynamics, tactile steering feedback and chassis playfulness means more to modern buyers than raw neck-snapping speed.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026
  • There is romance and melancholy, playfulness and despair, all happening at once.
    — PhotoVogue, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of playfulness
Noun
  • In the Middle Ages, Vocelle writes that cats become closely associated with witchcraft, which allowed for men to more widely abuse both women and the animals.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • So, while magic may be experiencing a resurgence, in many ways, witchcraft is still on trial.
    — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of witchcraft
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of devilment
Noun
  • The final snap the Chiefs took Sunday won them a football game, a 33-30 overtime victory against the Colts, with the kind of late-game magic reminiscent of some pretty good years for the organization.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • But whereas The Holdovers’s Paul Hunham despises his lazy, pampered students, The Debut’s Jerry Blankenbuehler has a determination to summon theatrical magic out of his meager cast.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of magic
Noun
  • Still, the pure rascality in these extravagant self-inventions shouldn’t be overlooked.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of rascality
Noun
  • Miller was bold, having learned of life’s wickedness at an early age.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 25 July 2026
  • Max Cady should be an unsettling interruption, a man who undermines our ideas of right and wrong through his nonchalance about his own wickedness; here, the most unsettling thing about him are those teal contact lenses.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of wickedness

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Cite this Entry

“Diablerie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diablerie. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on diablerie

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diablerie

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