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to devil

to devil

1 8.6
To prepare food with hot, spicy seasoning
  • verb
  • /ˈdɛvəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sazonar con
  • You can devil the shrimp by mixing them with a spicy mustard sauce before grilling.

Examples

  • For a flavorful twist, you should devil the potatoes with some hot paprika and garlic.

  • Our chef decided to devil the burgers by adding a zesty chili spread to the patties.

  • Hey, you devil, how about a deviled egg ? - Oh, no, I hate eggs.

  • Still Norm motherfucker, season that chicken with the devil's fingernails.

Synonyms

to spice
vsto devil
15 2.3

To add plant seasonings to food to give it more flavor

coats and stuffs food with a hot spicy paste rather than merely adding mild seasonings
to pepper
vsto devil
9 1.0

To sprinkle a ground spice over food to add taste

coats and stuffs food with hot spicy paste rather than light single-ingredient seasoning
to curry
vsto devil
4 2.7

To add fragrant Indian spices to food

coats or stuffs food with hot paste rather than applying a mixed regional spice blend

Antonyms

208 1.0

Simple and not decorated or flavored

23 2.0

Food that has a very weak taste and little or no strong flavor

Idioms

the devil
  • Informal
29 7.0

Something very difficult to do or deal with

13 4.8

A phrase said when someone you are talking about appears

like the devil
  • Informal
8 8.2

Very quickly and with great energy

what the Devil
  • Archaic
4 9.5

A phrase said to show surprise, confusion, or annoyance

1 9.6

To take a serious risk by doing something morally wrong to gain power or money

1 7.8

A person who seems kind but is really dangerous

To admit that someone has good points even if you dislike them

Small, often overlooked parts of a plan can cause big problems

You must choose between two options that are both bad

Not a single person or thing is present

A phrase people say to tell you bad thoughts are lies

Compounds

handsome devil
  • Informal
7 7.0

A man who is attractive and playfully charming and sometimes hard to trust

A person who prays to the devil or evil spirits

devil-may-care
  • Informal
4 8.1

Not caring about danger or the bad results of actions

she-devil
  • Offensive
4 8.8

A cruel woman who treats people very badly

3 6.3

A small spinning column of air that lifts dust and leaves

poor devil
  • Informal
2 5.4

A person you feel sorry for

Tasmanian devil
  • Australian
2 6.2

A small fierce animal from Tasmania that carries its young in a pouch and eats meat

devil dog
  • Slang
1 7.2

A member of the United States Marine Corps known for bravery and toughness

1 9.9

A rude name used in East Asia for someone from another country, often a Western person, showing fear or hate

1 7.4

A small ray like a manta that grows to about four feet and swims in groups

devil wagon
  • Slang
1 9.9

A vehicle that moves very fast in a dangerous way

A prickly plant with tall spikes of blue flowers that grows in fields

blue devil
  • Archaic
9.9

A strong sleeping medicine that makes people sleep

To pray to devils or evil spirits, often using special rituals

devil dancing
  • Literature
8.8

A lively dance people do at festivals or celebrations

8.0

A strong plant that spreads quickly and is used for lawns and pastures in warm places

9.9

A plant that lives many years with large reddish orange flowers with black spots and petals that curve back

9.9

A plant with tiny hairs that sting your skin

devil tree
  • Indian
9.9

A tall tropical tree from eastern Asia and the Philippines with glossy leaves and small white flowers

A dance by Apache people performed during a religious ceremony

folk devil
  • Jargon
8.9

A person or group unfairly blamed for social problems and seen as dangerous

9.9

A plant from Europe with bright yellow flowers that grows wild and harms crops

mountain devil
  • Australian
9.9

A bushy Australian shrub with clusters of bright red flowers that attract birds

mountain devil
  • Australian
9.9

A small spiky Australian lizard that eats mainly ants

go-devil
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who likes adventure and often takes big risks

printer's devil
  • Archaic
9.9

A worker who helps in a print shop with simple tasks like mixing ink

red devil
  • NSFW
9.9

A strong sleeping drug used to calm people or stop seizures

soot devil
  • Literature
9.9

An imaginary creature that makes soot messes near fireplaces

How Spicy

to devil
  • Specialized
1 8.6
to pepper
9 1.0
to spice
15 2.3
to season
43 1.7
to flavor
  • US
73 1.9

Surface Forms

devil infinitive
deviled past
deviled past participle
deviling present participle
devils third person singular

Etymology

Devil in cooking became devilled to describe food given hot, strong spices, as if the dish were very 'fiery', so cooks called spicy food 'devilled'. So to devil a dish is to make it spicy.