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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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.
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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
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In January he was busted in Union City, N.J. on a fugitive from justice charge; the same month he was arrested twice in Hoboken for criminal mischief, sources said.Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 18 Nov. 2024
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The report listed the potential offenses as criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Tituba learns the power of herbs and healing from a wise elder in Barbados and her knowledge of the natural world leads to her eventual accusation of witchcraft in America.Anita Kopacz, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
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Her husband was accused of witchcraft and of being responsible for the death of a little girl in their community.Emma Bubola, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
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To up their sorcery skills, this kit contains activities that teach them tricks using chemical reactions, such as making ordinary powders mystically foam and change color, creating test tube crystal balls, and more.Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 5 Dec. 2024
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The respective casting of those roles — Ariana Grande as the minimally gifted sorcery student who will go on to become Glinda, Good Witch of the North, and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, future Wicked Witch of the West — is the movie’s winning hand.David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
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In fact, Cilic rents out his bees, who work their magic for area farmers.Sofia Perez, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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For tourists such as Joy from Bangkok, the opportunity to experience Christmas magic and view the Northern Lights makes Rovaniemi the ideal destination.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Hints and Answers for Game #542 NYT 'Connections' December 3: Hints and Answers for Game #541 'Connections' #544 Hints and Clues for Friday, December 6 Yellow: To keep someone guessing. Green: Casting a magical, but negative, enchantment Blue: Names of toys in a movie starring Woody.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
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Basically, the book of enchantments is an ancient tome with mysterious origins that is unreadable to almost everyone in Oz.Megan McCluskey, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near devilry
Cite this Entry
“Devilry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilry. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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