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Definition of devilish

devilish

/ˈdɛv.əl.ɪʃ/
dev · il · ish
Adverb:devilishly
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devilish Lexical Profile

devilish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Playfully mischievous, roguish, or reckless in an appealing way.

Example

"He flashed a devilish grin before revealing the surprise."

2

Resembling or characteristic of a devil in wickedness, cruelty, or malice.

Example

"The villain hatched a devilish plot to ruin the town's economy."

3

Extremely difficult, complex, or frustrating to deal with.

Example

"The professor assigned a devilish logic puzzle at the end of the exam."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• adverb

1

To a very great degree; extremely or excessively (used informally as an intensifier).

Example

"It was a devilish cold morning on the moors."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

deviation
device
devil
devilish
devilishly
devilishness
devilment

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English develish, formed from devil (ultimately from Ancient Greek diabolos, meaning 'slanderer' or 'accuser') plus the suffix -ish.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Devilish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/devilish
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