definitions

bedevil

[ bih-dev-uh l ]
/ bɪˈdɛv əl /
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verb (used with object), be·dev·iled, be·dev·il·ing or (especially British) be·dev·illed, be·dev·il·ling.

to torment or harass maliciously or diabolically, as with doubts, distractions, or worries.
to possess, as with a devil; bewitch.
to cause confusion or doubt in; muddle; confound: an issue bedeviled by prejudices.
to beset or hamper continuously: a new building bedeviled by elevator failures.

RELATED WORDS

persecution, provocation, molestation, annoyance, disturbance, bother, exasperation, aggravation, perturbation, torment, irritation, hassle, trouble, vexation, nuisance, provoking, bothering, pestering, vexing

Nearby words

bedecked, bedeguar, bedehouse, bedel, bedesman, bedevil, bedevilment, bedew, bedfast, bedfellow, bedford

Origin of bedevil

First recorded in 1760–70; be- + devil
Related formsbe·dev·il·ment, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bedevilment

British Dictionary definitions for bedevilment

bedevil

/ (bɪˈdɛvəl) /

verb -ils, -illing or -illed or US -ils, -iling or -iled (tr)

to harass or torment
to throw into confusion
to possess, as with a devil
Derived Formsbedevilment, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012