variants
or deviltry
1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
children always getting into some devilry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in witchcraft
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means
superstitious villagers who were quick to attribute an unexpected occurrence to devilry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of devilry
That’s enough devilry to explain at least much of Haiti’s challenges without resorting to tales of satanic influence.
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Matthew Brown, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
Shyamalan, to be fair, has lost none of his compositional devilry; notice his bisecting of the screen with clean vertical lines—the trunk of a tree, or the edge of a shower curtain, behind which somebody may or may not lurk.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2023
Who are the sword and sorcery protagonists that scratch your itch for devilry and adventure?
—Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2021
Suddenly, modernists were jockeying to impose some glass-and-steel devilry atop the old dame.
—Shawn McCreesh, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2021
Before long, the angry and injured young wife is the one on trial for witchcraft — fighting for her life as the apparent evidence of devilry accrues.
—BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2021
Aboard the ship, mysterious devilry begins to take place and a demon is suspected to be behind it.
—Kami Phillips, CNN Underscored, 8 Oct. 2020
The mildly disastrous consequences of Eddie’s devilry predictably set up the big moment at the end of the show in which Ward or June Cleaver would distill an important Life Lesson from the experience.
—Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 19 May 2020
These winged insects pollinate plants, inspire funny memes, and rule the night like fluttery little kings, felled only by the devilry of porch lights masquerading as the moon.
—Sarah Todd, Quartz at Work, 23 Oct. 2019
Matthew Brown, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
Shyamalan, to be fair, has lost none of his compositional devilry; notice his bisecting of the screen with clean vertical lines—the trunk of a tree, or the edge of a shower curtain, behind which somebody may or may not lurk.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2023
Who are the sword and sorcery protagonists that scratch your itch for devilry and adventure?
—Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2021
Suddenly, modernists were jockeying to impose some glass-and-steel devilry atop the old dame.
—Shawn McCreesh, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2021
Before long, the angry and injured young wife is the one on trial for witchcraft — fighting for her life as the apparent evidence of devilry accrues.
—BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2021
Aboard the ship, mysterious devilry begins to take place and a demon is suspected to be behind it.
—Kami Phillips, CNN Underscored, 8 Oct. 2020
The mildly disastrous consequences of Eddie’s devilry predictably set up the big moment at the end of the show in which Ward or June Cleaver would distill an important Life Lesson from the experience.
—Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 19 May 2020
These winged insects pollinate plants, inspire funny memes, and rule the night like fluttery little kings, felled only by the devilry of porch lights masquerading as the moon.
—Sarah Todd, Quartz at Work, 23 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilry
Noun
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Date: October 25 to 27 Rooms from $713 Photo : Courtesy of the Tampa EDITION The Tampa Edition Head to Club Noir at the Tampa Edition for a night of mischief, mystery, and delicious dining.Meredith Lepore, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
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Bryan Ferry has been making mischief for more than 50 years, on the margins of the rock world.Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2024
Noun
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But new research suggests that one English woman convicted of witchcraft and condemned to be hanged may have escaped the noose.Julia Buckley, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
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He was tried for witchcraft, found guilty, and burnt at the stake.Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Sam uses her sorcery to help advance her husband’s career and for chores around the house.Lisa Stardust, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
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The lack of weight here helps enormously, of course—and this is the sorcery behind how the Spring manages 140 miles per charge on such a tiny battery.Jeremy White, WIRED, 5 Aug. 2024
Noun
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To learn more about superstition, check out my new book about the science of magic.Popular Science Staff, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
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At Sainsbury’s, the collaboration with Roald Dahl’s The BFG leans into nostalgia, tugging at consumers’ heartstrings with a dose of festive magic.Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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With the Wicked movie’s November 22 release on the horizon, fans of Oz can celebrate with cocktails that channel the iconic characters and enchantment of this beloved story.Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Celeb Check-in In fact, Scott himself is part of the enchantment, with his face larger-than-life on posters and billboards all over New York City, including on buses and cabs.Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near devilry
Cite this Entry
“Devilry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilry. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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