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
Relevance
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
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 devilry
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
Who are the sword and sorcery protagonists that scratch your itch for devilry and adventure?
—Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2021
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
Aboard the ship, mysterious devilry begins to take place and a demon is suspected to be behind it.
—Kami Phillips, CNN Underscored, 8 Oct. 2020
The mildly disastrous consequences of Eddie’s devilry predictably set up the big moment at the end of the show in which Ward or June Cleaver would distill an important Life Lesson from the experience.
—Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 19 May 2020
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
Who are the sword and sorcery protagonists that scratch your itch for devilry and adventure?
—Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2021
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
Aboard the ship, mysterious devilry begins to take place and a demon is suspected to be behind it.
—Kami Phillips, CNN Underscored, 8 Oct. 2020
The mildly disastrous consequences of Eddie’s devilry predictably set up the big moment at the end of the show in which Ward or June Cleaver would distill an important Life Lesson from the experience.
—Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 19 May 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilry
Noun
-
As a mother of three, Kathy is positivity with a dose of mischief, and a bit of mysticism to keep things interesting.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
-
John Connaughton, 51, is facing charges of felony battery, criminal mischief and two counts of aggravated assault, according to court records.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Rotoscope animation sets the stage for this wild 17th century look at a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Rotoscope animation sets the stage for this wild 17th century look at a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Wakanda Forever, the series brings Riri back home to Chicago, where the lines between science and sorcery start to blur.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Generating sophisticated charts or extracting hidden insights was a form of sorcery few dared to question.—
Florian Douetteau,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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
Noun
-
The magic of Frank Lloyd Wright’s genius design is its constant sense of surprise—an effect redoubled by the work of an artist like Johnson, who moves so fluidly between media.—
Stephanie Sporn,
Vogue,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The free event will bring the magic of the rainforest alive with this interactive show.—
Pomerado News,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Ultimately, his narcissistic enchantment with his own beauty and lifestyle is marred by one great fear – aging and loss of his youth.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Sometimes Goodman seems a little too audibly aware of the enchantment of her formula.—
Sarah Larson,
The New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devilry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilry. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share