1
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
that's a devilish amount of bad luck for any person to have to endure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in demonic
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit
a devilish plan to sabotage the other party's political convention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a devilish grin that told us he was up to something
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 devilish
With a dazzling set of wings strapped on, Carla Bruni made for a devilish angel for her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway debut on Tuesday in New York.
—
Violet Goldstone, WWD, 16 Oct. 2024
The Jonas Åkerlund video, too, is among Gaga’s freakiest, featuring exploding cars, neon-country dance sequences, and her playfully devilish expressions.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
The girl kneeled on the floor before a colorful depiction of the Second Heavens, flowers in her hands and figurines of shapely beings with devilish heads surrounding her.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
Variations of these devilish details have been well known for decades.
—Brady Gerber, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Violet Goldstone, WWD, 16 Oct. 2024
The Jonas Åkerlund video, too, is among Gaga’s freakiest, featuring exploding cars, neon-country dance sequences, and her playfully devilish expressions.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
The girl kneeled on the floor before a colorful depiction of the Second Heavens, flowers in her hands and figurines of shapely beings with devilish heads surrounding her.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
Variations of these devilish details have been well known for decades.
—Brady Gerber, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilish
Adjective
-
This study, which was published in the journal Neurology, comes when clinicians and public health advocates are raising awareness of alcohol use disorder and issues related to excessive alcohol consumption.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Avoid constipation as excessive straining can weaken the pelvic floor.—
Violeta Valdés,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The cause is less demonic and more likely domoic acid toxicosis caused by toxic algal bloom, often referred to as red tide, experts say.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Though known for voicing the demonic doll Chucky in the popular horror franchise of the same name, the elder Dourif has had some experience performing in the medical field before.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ramona is an imaginative (and mischievous) fourth grader who is always up to something.—
Marilyn La Jeunesse,
Parents,
10 Apr. 2025
-
However, the house is haunted, and the group must confront their differences to survive the night against a host of mischievous ghosts.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Think about the weather: Between 2018 and 2023, three out of four people in the U.S. experienced an extreme weather event like a hurricane, a fire, or a flood.—
Jennifer Tescher,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
And these are both short and long-term outcomes, like extreme fatigue.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Thorne starred in the film as a young woman who discovers her father has been killed after returning to her small hometown, while Rourke, 72, starred as a sinister sheriff.—
Latoya Gayle,
People.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
As digitally dropped threats from an unknown predator grow increasingly sinister during the protagonist’s big date at a Chicago restaurant, the messages blast across the big screen in huge letters, or plaster an entire wall of the ladies’ restroom.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Based on the famed Brothers Grimm tale, the story follows a princess who is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make Snow White part of their household after she’s exiled into a dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The offence O’Reilly’s draft day scouting reports suggested the Oilers chose a middle-six centre (second or third line) with wicked checking ability and enough offence to project into a feature role if everything worked out.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Amanda learned in like 10 seconds, which is insane.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
-
The emu egg—a two pound, eight-inch ovoid with a sultry teal shell gently speckled in pale green—seemed like just the right absurdist final flourish for an already insane endeavor.—
Helen Rosner,
The New Yorker,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Pearl Breed: Pit terrier mix Age: 2 years old Pearl is a cuddly, goofy, playful pup looking for her forever home.—
Trish Stinger,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The alternating worlds are meant to be playful, but Toontown especially gets exhausting quickly, with characters mugging, clowning and amplifying every limp punchline.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilish. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share