devilry
Americannoun
plural
devilriesnoun
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reckless or malicious fun or mischief
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wickedness or cruelty
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black magic or other forms of diabolism
Etymology
Origin of devilry
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.
He possessed both the winemaking skills and an appetite for devilry.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025
That makes a person wonder what manner of devilry they're concealing; after all, if there's literally nothing to see in front of us, surely it's hiding elsewhere.
From Salon • Feb. 12, 2022
How about you, dear reader: Who are the sword and sorcery protagonists that scratch your itch for devilry and adventure?
From Washington Post • Sep. 17, 2021
A different, more downbeat brand of devilry is afoot in "The Exorcist," which takes off from William Peter Blatty’s bestselling 1971 novel and director William Friedkin's 1973 film.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 23, 2016
“Why should we suddenly trust him?” whispered Elinor to Mo. “Suppose there’s some other devilry behind this?”
From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
