bedevil
verb (used with object)
to torment or harass maliciously or diabolically, as with doubts, distractions, or worries.
has bedeviled
-
present perfectof bedevil (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
A question has bedeviled a wealthy Lake Tahoe enclave for years: Who is poisoning the towering trees that stand sentry on the North Shore?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
It can seem as if Rahma has mastered a fractured, attention-driven media ecosystem that has bedeviled traditional entertainment executives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
Racism has bedeviled this continent for centuries, but demagogues who seek power through raw resentment fail all the time.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2024
The central bank’s policymakers are struggling with a persistently high inflation rate that has bedeviled American households and heightened the uncertainties overhanging the economy.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 23, 2023
Tension over the status of Northern Ireland has bedeviled negotiators since Britain voted in 2016 to withdraw from the bloc.
From New York Times ● Mar. 4, 2023
