: the most powerful spirit of evil in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam who is often represented as the ruler of hell
informal
1
—used to make a statement or question more forceful
What the devil are you talking about?
Where the devil have you been?
2
: something that is very difficult or that causes a lot of trouble
The shoes look great, but they're the devil to walk in.
Cite this Entry
“The Devil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20Devil. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
