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devil-ridden

devil-ridden

9.9
Filled with evil spirits that control or trouble people
  • adjective
  • Literature
translation icon : 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

demonic
vsdevil-ridden
91 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
36 7.5

Extremely evil and cruel, like something from hell

is about being influenced, controlled, or troubled by evil forces rather than only wickedness
cursed
vsdevil-ridden
  • Literature
1 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
demon-ridden
vsdevil-ridden
  • Literature
9.9

Seeming to be controlled and troubled by evil spirits

can mean general influence by evil forces rather than clear possession
possessed
vsdevil-ridden
  • Literature
8.2

Controlled by an evil spirit

may also include being troubled or influenced rather than full control
demoniac
vsdevil-ridden
  • Archaic
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
demoniacal
vsdevil-ridden
  • Archaic
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
accursed
vsdevil-ridden
  • Literature
8.8

Suffering bad luck and likely to have more trouble

refers to influence or torment by evil forces rather than a named malediction

Antonyms

212 1.4

Morally good and not involved in sexual activity

blessed
  • Formal
8 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.