variants
or deviltry
1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
children always getting into some devilry
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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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Daniel Taylor has written about the mentality, moves, and mischief which made him — and unearths his first ever scouting report.Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
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The London Cat, a great skinless feline who likes to turn people inside-out and embodies all the mischief and malevolence of cats).Christian Holub, EW.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The leadership of folks like Book and the Trans Folk Witch is especially significant considering the long history of exclusion within witchcraft.Emma Cieslik, Them, 1 Nov. 2024
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At the time, left-handedness was associated with witchcraft, so crew members would have relied on their right hands and put more stress on their right sides during repetitive tasks on the ship, Shankland said.Ashley Strickland, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Unknown Armies This idiosyncratic modern magic game from Atlas Games plays like a gritty reboot of other games about sorcery.Rob Wieland, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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The fact that Desmond injures himself badly in pulling off this sorcery endears him to Corrino all the more, which of course puts Valya in a deeper fix.Scott Tobias, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
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While Death Valley is known for its harsh daytime heat, Jadon says the magic truly happens after sunset.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
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Thankfully, the magic that has been bestowed upon us by our clients is something that can never leave.Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Sip this citrusy creation and let the ground cardamom and cinnamon add just the right touch of enchantment.Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
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This sumptuous adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s internationally renowned novel of love, longing, and culinary enchantment during the Mexican Revolution feels grander and more emotional—but also more thoughtfully engaged with the politics of its era—than the great 1992 film version.Judy Berman, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near devilry
Cite this Entry
“Devilry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilry. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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