devilishness

noun

as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm the children always concoct some sort of devilishness on Halloween

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for devilishness
  1. mischief
  2. playfulness
  3. devilment
  4. mischievousness
  5. wickedness
Noun
  • Bucking Fastard, Werner Herzog’s first fiction film since 2019, belongs to a hallowed lineage of cinema about weird gals getting into mischief.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • For a curious cat or dog, a quick nibble or brush against the wrong bloom can turn a little botanical mischief into a serious medical emergency.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of mischief
Noun
  • The Kukka chandelier by Sarah Sherman Samuel for Lulu and Georgia adds a touch of playfulness to the living room, which is located in the original 1930s Spanish-style part of the home.
    — Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Leaving out the outrageous persona, the eye-grabbing iconography, and the sizzling live shows, his musical restlessness and playfulness generated albums that were and are appointment listening.
    — Michaelangelo Matos, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of playfulness
Noun
  • Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika.
    — SAVEUR Editors, Saveur, 5 Feb. 2025
  • But even if truffles are beyond your pay grade, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in the sheer devilment portrayed in this informative and appetizing book.
    — Eugenia Bone, WSJ, 10 July 2019
Definition of devilment
Noun
  • Instead, Audi has built something that works remarkably well as everyday transportation while keeping a substantial reserve of mischievousness for those moments when an empty stretch of road appears.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The tension latent in Jobim and Regina’s working relationship gives their rendition a mischievousness that’s sorely missed in the monotony of Art Garfunkel’s version, or the twee precision of Susannah McCorkle’s.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 13 June 2026
Definition of mischievousness
Noun
  • Miller was bold, having learned of life’s wickedness at an early age.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 25 July 2026
  • Max Cady should be an unsettling interruption, a man who undermines our ideas of right and wrong through his nonchalance about his own wickedness; here, the most unsettling thing about him are those teal contact lenses.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of wickedness
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

devilishly
devilishness
devil-may-care
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Cite this Entry

“Devilishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devilishness. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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