What does "devil" mean?
An evil creature, the objectification of a hostile and destructive force.
Devil
/ˈdɛvəl/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An evil creature, the objectification of a hostile and destructive force.
- Grammar: devil is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: demon, fiend, abaddon, adventurer.
- Useful contrasts: aid, angel, angeles.
- Usage evidence: The director cast me as the devil.
How to use "devil"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "devil" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "devil" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "devil" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "devil" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "devil" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "demon" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "devil", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An evil creature, the objectification of a hostile and destructive force.
- 2 a word used in exclamations of confusion wordnet
- 3 A fictional image of a man, usually red or orange in skin color; with a set of horns on his head, a pointed goatee and a long tail and carrying a pitchfork; that represents evil and portrayed to children in an effort to discourage bad behavior.
- 4 an evil supernatural being wordnet
- 5 The bad part of the conscience; the opposite to the angel.
"The devil in me wants to let him suffer."
Show 15 more definitions
- 6 a rowdy or mischievous person (usually a young man) wordnet
- 7 A wicked or naughty person, or one who harbors reckless, spirited energy, especially in a mischievous way; usually said of a young child.
"Those two kids are devils in a toy store."
- 8 a cruel wicked and inhuman person wordnet
- 9 A thing that is awkward or difficult to understand or do.
"That math problem was a devil."
- 10 Hell. euphemistic
"What in the devil is that?"
- 11 A person, especially a man; used to express a particular opinion of him, usually in the phrases poor devil and lucky devil.
- 12 A printer's assistant.
"For he will not leave his listener to dwell upon sorrow when the print office beckons and he can show you what a good little devil he became."
- 13 A poltergeist that haunts printing works. India
- 14 A dust devil.
"The formation of tornados and water-spouts is very probably identical with that of dust-storms and "devils," viz., a sudden disturbance of the vertical equilibrium of the atmosphere, where by an upward rush of air is generated, which rapidly becomes spiral."
- 15 A barren, unproductive and unused area. dialectal, in-compounds
"devil strip"
- 16 A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper.
"Men and women busy in baking, broiling, roasting oysters, and preparing devils on the gridiron."
- 17 A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc., as used in the production of mungo or shoddy.
"The woollen things are torn to pieces by a machine having spiked rollers (termed a devil), cleansed, and the fibre spun with a certain proportion of new wool, the yarn being afterwards woven into the full-bodied but flimsy fabric termed shoddy."
- 18 A Tasmanian devil.
"He removes his food, water, and torch from the pack and then pushes it to the far end of the tent – no devil is going to rip his pack apart tonight."
- 19 An endurance event where riders who fall behind are periodically eliminated. slang
- 20 Ellipsis of devil seam (“the seam between garboard strake and the keel, on wooden boats”). abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Verb
- 1 To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.
- 2 coat or stuff with a spicy paste wordnet
- 3 To annoy or bother.
- 4 cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations wordnet
- 5 To work as a ‘devil’; to work for a lawyer or writer without fee or recognition. intransitive
"He did not repeat the scathing estimate of her character by Quatrefages, who at that time spent one afternoon a week devilling at the Consulate, keeping the petty-cash box in order."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 To ghostwrite; to author while working as a ‘devil’.
"Didn't secretaries write the speeches of Parliamentary "big-bugs"? Weren't the opinions of eminent lawyers often written by their juniors, read over and signed? Weren't briefs and pleadings devilled?"
- 7 To prepare (food) with spices, making it spicy:; To grill with cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper.
"[…]; you could watch a buckwheat pancake whirled into existence under your eyes and see fowls' legs devilled, peppered, grilled, and tormented till they lost all semblance of the original Mariposa chicken."
- 8 To prepare (food) with spices, making it spicy:; To finely grind cooked ham or other meat with spices and condiments.
- 9 To prepare (food) with spices, making it spicy:; To prepare a sidedish of shelled halved boiled eggs to whose extracted yolks are added condiments and spices, which mixture then is placed into the halved whites to be served.
"She's going to devil four dozen eggs for the picnic."
- 10 To shred fabric into its fibres for recycling, as in the production of mungo or shoddy.
"Tailors' clippings and remnants of fine woollen goods, such as broadcloth, etc., are devilled and spun into yarn for making cloth of nicer quality, called mungo."
Proper Noun
- 1 The chief devil; Satan.
- 2 The chief devil; Satan.
Example
"The director cast me as the devil."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "devil"?
Common synonyms include: demon, fiend, abaddon, adventurer, adventuress, adversary.
How do you use "devil" in a sentence?
The director cast me as the devil.
How do you pronounce "devil"?
Pronounced /ˈdɛvəl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwísder. Ancient Greek διά (diá) Ancient Greek δια- (dia-) Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der. Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō Ancient Greek βᾰ́λλω (bắllō) Ancient Greek διαβάλλω (diabállō) Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos)bor. Latin diabolusbor. Proto-West Germanic *diubul Old English dēofol Middle English devel English devil From Middle English devil, devel, deovel, from Old English dēofol, from Proto-West Germanic *diubul, from Latin diabolus, ultimately from Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos, “false accuser, slanderer”), also as "Satan" (in Jewish/Christian usage, translating Biblical Hebrew שָׂטָן (śātān)), from διαβάλλω (diabállō, “to slander”), literally “to throw across”, from διά (diá, “through, across”) + βάλλω (bállō, “throw”). The Old English word was probably adopted under influence of Latin diabolus (itself from the Greek). Other Germanic languages adopted the word independently: compare Saterland Frisian Düüwel (“devil”), West Frisian duvel (“devil”), Dutch duivel, duvel (“devil”), German Low German Düvel (“devil”), German Teufel (“devil”), Bavarian Teifl (“devil”), Danish djævel (“devil”), Swedish djävul (“devil”) (older: djefvul, Old Swedish diævul, Old Norse djǫfull). Doublet of diable, diablo, and diabolus.
Etymology 2
See devil.