bedevil
verb (used with object)
to torment or harass maliciously or diabolically, as with doubts, distractions, or worries.
had bedeviled
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past perfectof bedevil.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His work in theoretical math and computer science advanced the field, solving problems that had bedeviled it for more than 50 years.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 14, 2022
The researchers realized they might have stumbled across an answer to a mystery that had bedeviled bat biologists for 2 decades—and an explanation for why some families of bats had such a diverse echolocation arsenal.
From Science Magazine ● Jan. 26, 2022
Millions watched a video of the brazen shoplifting in June, which critics said illustrated the epidemic of store thefts that had bedeviled retailers across the city.
From New York Times ● Oct. 13, 2021
He made major strides on an issue had bedeviled Democrats — including the Clintons — for decades.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 18, 2020
A string of especially perplexing breakdowns had bedeviled the lab that year, at a time when Lawrence was struggling to fill a mounting stack of orders for radioisotopes from all over the country.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
