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bedevil
Use
Bedevil
in a sentence
be·dev·il
/
bɪˈdɛv
əl
/
Show Spelled
[
bih-
dev
-
uh
l
]
Show IPA
verb (used with object),
be·dev·iled,
be·dev·il·ing
or
(
especially British
)
be·dev·illed,
be·dev·il·ling.
1.
to torment or harass maliciously or diabolically, as with doubts, distractions, or worries.
2.
to possess, as with a
devil
; bewitch.
3.
to cause confusion or
doubt
in; muddle; confound:
an issue bedeviled by prejudices.
4.
to beset or hamper continuously:
a new building bedeviled by elevator failures.
Origin:
1760–70;
be-
+
devil
Related forms
be·dev·il·ment,
noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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bedevil
Relevant Questions
What Is A Bedevilment?
What Is A Bedevilment?
00:10
Bedevil
is always a great word to know.
So is
callithumpian
. Does it mean:
So is
flibbertigibbet
. Does it mean:
So is
ninnyhammer
. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
bedevil
(bɪˈdɛv
ə
l)
—
vb
, (
US
)
-ils
,
-illing
,
-illed
,
-ils
,
-iling
,
-iled
1.
to harass or torment
2.
to throw into confusion
3.
to possess, as with a devil
be'devilment
—
n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
bedevil
1768, "to treat diabolically, abuse," from
be-
+ verbal use of
devil
(q.v.). Meaning "to drive frantic" is from 1823.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
But no one should feel misled or disappointed if doing so doesn't solve all of
the questions that
bedevil
us.
Epidemics continued to
bedevil
the troops, especially lethal yellow fever.
Keeping those promises will soon start to
bedevil
the administration.
Still, it provides a means of addressing the issues that continue to
bedevil
monopolization cases.
Issues of appropriate weighting in the aggregation process will presumably always
bedevil
us.
Profound questions that seem almost theological in nature both
bedevil
and inspire us.
Many of those cases have been finally decided and provide guidance on questions that
bedevil
human resource employees.
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Synonyms
bewilder
irritate
fluster
torment
provoke
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muddle
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Synonym Game
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