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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a devilish grin that told us he was up to something
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devilish
Below, Park gets into the devilish debauchery of Mary Todd Lincoln.
—
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Both of the above are essential to the show’s endgame, ensuring that a sequence of unhinged kickers ostensibly meant to be devilish fun instead come across as mean-spirited and exploitative.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
And the drinks really are devilish good.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
One devilish regime cracks with Maduro’s capture; gratuitous, imperial profiteering must not be allowed to empower another.
—Anthony Dominguez, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Both of the above are essential to the show’s endgame, ensuring that a sequence of unhinged kickers ostensibly meant to be devilish fun instead come across as mean-spirited and exploitative.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
And the drinks really are devilish good.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
One devilish regime cracks with Maduro’s capture; gratuitous, imperial profiteering must not be allowed to empower another.
—Anthony Dominguez, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devilish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilish
Adjective
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Illinois Senate President Don Harmon should pass legislation granting the Illinois Department of Insurance the power to reject excessive rate hikes by insurance companies regarding homeowners’ insurance rates.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
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The National Park Service warns that excessive saltwater intrusion can weaken the trees over time, and in some cases, eventually kill them.—
Dan Peck,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Millions of views accumulated for a kid rapping about the demonic nature of LGBTQ people.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Make your way to our festival headquarters before the screenings begin, strutting through the French Quarter in style behind a demonic brass band, creepy characters both familiar and unknown, and you.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Ospreys – a mischievous bird of prey – have returned.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
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Labubu, the vinyl plush collectible with a snaggletoothed grin and knowingly mischievous eyes, has become a viral sensation and one of China’s fastest-rising exports.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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From extreme heat and wildfire smoke to asthma and utility costs, climate change is already impacting our everyday lives.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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This model is also the brand’s most durable yet, boasting an extreme IP69 rating for water and dust resistance, paired with a versatile triple 50MP camera system that captures professional-grade detail across wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto shots.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The receptionist works behind a period cabinet converted into the sort of desk Philip Marlowe would happily put his feet on and Art Deco ornamentations abound, from the beautiful clocks, to the slightly sinister candlesticks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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The horror film stars Zazie Beetz as a housekeeper who works in a sinister high-rise apartment.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Exceptionally well-written with equal parts spice, vinegar, wicked wit, and wonder how Charlie and Emma can possibly survive this unexpected turn in their lives after one simple question and one complicated answer threatens to blow everything up.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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With stunning action set pieces, a delightfully wicked villain (Javier Bardem), and a surprisingly emotional through-line featuring M (Judi Dench), Skyfall resonated for casual moviegoers as much as diehard Bond devotees.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If he was convicted, a jury would then have to decide whether Abril was insane when the park shooting occurred.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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And the culture is happily playing along in the name of this insane thirst of Stan culture to have something on the other side.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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How dare Netflix make such a diabolical announcement on a random Tuesday in March.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
24 Mar. 2026
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Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton star in the movie as sisters who attempt to survive another diabolical game of hide-and-seek.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilish. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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