deviltry
1
9.7
- noun
- /ˈdɛvəltri/
- Archaic
:
travesura
- Still, I am reasonably certain there is no "death" for our spirit, so even if there is some huge catastrophe or Illuminati deviltry around the corner, ultimately it won't matter much (in the higher dimensional sense anyway).
Examples
-
I've always had a weak spot in my heart for the deviltry of a rascal.
Fiction book (1991) -
He used to minister up there... at the 12th St. Baptist up there in the city... till he couldn't stomach what he called the deviltry anymore.
-
Alone and single brings out the deviltry in a man.
-
And of course, that dominatrix of deviltry...
-
"Anything to oblige you, my dear, even deviltry.
Fiction book (1997) -
He's not satisfied with what he tried on me two years ago... ...and tries his deviltry on my baby sister.
-
That, at least, is the theory of the supply-side deviltry. "I never heard of it," Azzie said.
Fiction book (1991) -
Having distanced himself and his client from the deviltry of the charge, Rose methodically sets out the pieces of his argument like chessmen.
Academic text (1994) -
I've not mentioned that Albert Lickenspittle's philippics resonate with the deviltry of cynicism.
Blog text (21) -
The children plotted some deviltry to annoy their teacher during the dull lesson.
Synonyms
52
8.6
A playful or dishonest trick that causes trouble
27
3.2
Bad actions that cause harm to people or property on purpose
16
8.1
Very bad actions that hurt other people
2
8.4
Noisy, wild actions that cause trouble or excitement
2
7.5
A wish to hurt or make other people suffer
1
8.8
Behaviour that harms people or tricks them, sometimes as a prank
1
7.9
Playful mischief that teases or annoys other people
1
6.0
The act of causing trouble or harm to others on purpose
1
8.8
Playful but sometimes dishonest behavior that annoys people
1
8.4
Very cruel and evil actions that harm people
1
9.6
Very evil behaviour that harms other people
Playful or wicked behavior that shows mischief
Being very bad and cruel to other people
Antonyms
How Wicked
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Deviltry comes from the familiar word devil, meaning 'an evil spirit', plus the ending -try that turns it into a word about actions. So, deviltry means 'devilish' or naughty actions meant to annoy or harm.