devilish

[dev-uh-lish, dev-lish]

See more synonyms for devilish on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of, like, or befitting a devil; diabolical; fiendish.
extreme; very great: a devilish mess.

adverb

excessively; extremely: He's devilish proud.

Origin of devilish

1400–50; late Middle English. See devil, -ish¹

Related formsdev·il·ish·ly, adverbdev·il·ish·ness, nounsu·per·dev·il·ish, adjectivesu·per·dev·il·ish·ly, adverbsu·per·dev·il·ish·ness, nounun·dev·il·ish, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. satanic, demoniac, infernal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for devilish

Contemporary Examples

Use him as the poster child for a nasty, devilish lobbying group being the de facto fourth branch of government.
Where the Hell Is the Surgeon General?
Roland S. Martin
October 9, 2014
As she disappears down the hill, Grace shoots Mormello a devilish grin: “What does she have?”
Hallucinating Away a Heroin Addiction
Abby Haglage
May 4, 2014
Depending on whether you use a Greek, Hebrew, or English number scheme, a lot of different names add up to the devilish number.
Run with the Devil Unlike the Girl in Kentucky
Candida Moss
November 10, 2013
The course teaches that Devilish influence in the world is of two basic types.
The Devil and Antonin Scalia
Candida Moss
October 8, 2013
But unfortunately for us, the devilish Mr. Hyde was in charge in that case.
Dr. Antonin and Mr. Scalia, or, a Justice Divided Against Himself
Dean Obeidallah
July 3, 2013

Historical Examples

And a devilish piece of luck it was, for I have been hustling ever since.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II
Francis Augustus Cox
You are poor, devilish poor;—that the hole in your coat assures me.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Without that rootless, worthless, devilish fancy, I might have been no worse than other people!
Salted With Fire
George MacDonald
That which falleth in Heaven is devilish, but that which stumbleth on earth is human.
Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther
Martin Luther

British Dictionary definitions for devilish

devilish

adjective

of, resembling, or befitting a devil; diabolic; fiendish

adverb, adjective informal

(intensifier)devilish good food; this devilish heat

Derived Formsdevilishly, adverbdevilishness, 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

Word Origin and History for devilish

adj.

mid-15c.; see devil + -ish. Related: Devilishly; devilishness.

devilish

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}devilish

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for devilish

Contemporary Examples

Use him as the poster child for a nasty, devilish lobbying group being the de facto fourth branch of government.

As she disappears down the hill, Grace shoots Mormello a devilish grin: “What does she have?”

Depending on whether you use a Greek, Hebrew, or English number scheme, a lot of different names add up to the devilish number.

The course teaches that Devilish influence in the world is of two basic types.

But unfortunately for us, the devilish Mr. Hyde was in charge in that case.

Historical Examples

And a devilish piece of luck it was, for I have been hustling ever since.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

You are poor, devilish poor;—that the hole in your coat assures me.

Without that rootless, worthless, devilish fancy, I might have been no worse than other people!

That which falleth in Heaven is devilish, but that which stumbleth on earth is human.

devilish

Word Origin and History for devilish

adj.

Origin of devilish