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devil-ridden

devil-ridden

9.9
Filled with evil spirits that control or trouble people
  • adjective
  • Literature
: poseído
  • The old house was rumored to be devil-ridden, keeping locals away for decades.

Examples

  • She felt devil-ridden after the haunting experience.

  • The story featured a devil-ridden priest who struggled with his inner demons.

  • He claimed that his nightmares were the result of a devil-ridden mind.

  • The devil-ridden town was filled with fear.

  • The old house was rumored to be devil-ridden, causing people to feel uneasy when passing by it.

  • The story featured a devil-ridden priest who fought against the dark influences in his life.

  • After the frightening incident, she felt devil-ridden and struggled to shake off the fear.

Synonyms

cursed
vsdevil-ridden
  • Literature
136 5.3

Having bad luck because of a magic spell, sometimes used to show anger or strong feeling

usually means real influence or trouble by evil forces rather than colloquial annoyance
possessed
vsdevil-ridden
  • Literature
81 8.2

Controlled by an evil spirit

may also include being troubled or influenced rather than full control
demonic
vsdevil-ridden
70 8.1

Extremely evil and cruel, as if caused by the devil

usually means actual influence or being troubled by evil forces rather than general wickedness
satanic
vsdevil-ridden
26 7.5

Extremely evil and cruel, like something from hell

is about being influenced, controlled, or troubled by evil forces rather than only wickedness
accursed
vsdevil-ridden
  • Literature
15 8.8

Suffering bad luck and likely to have more trouble

refers to influence or torment by evil forces rather than a named malediction
demoniacal
vsdevil-ridden
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Very cruel or wild, as if controlled by an evil spirit

emphasises actual being influenced or troubled by evil forces rather than mere wickedness
demon-ridden
vsdevil-ridden
  • Literature
1 9.9

Seeming to be controlled and troubled by evil spirits

can mean general influence by evil forces rather than clear possession
demoniac
vsdevil-ridden
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Being related to an evil spirit or showing its control

focuses on being actually influenced or troubled by evil forces not just resembling them

Antonyms

216 1.4

Morally good and not involved in sexual activity

blessed
  • Formal
87 4.8

Viewed as holy and worthy of worship in a religion

Surface Forms

devil-ridden positive

Morphology

devil-ridden = devil + ridden (semi-transparent) = devil + ridden

The meaning is broadly compositional as 'devil' modifies 'ridden', but 'ridden' in this construction is a conventional figurative pattern meaning 'infested or burdened with'.

Etymology

The word devil-ridden comes from devil (an 'evil spirit') and ridden, from the verb ride meaning 'to be controlled by' or 'full of'. Think of a rider on a horse: if the devil 'rides' someone, the person is troubled or controlled by evil, so devil-ridden means troubled or controlled by evil.