Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [bih-dev-uh l]
- /bɪˈdɛv əl/
- /bɪˈdev.əl/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [bih-dev-uh l]
- /bɪˈdɛv əl/
Definitions of bedevil word
- verb bedevil If you are bedevilled by something unpleasant, it causes you a lot of problems over a period of time. 3
- verb bedevil to harass or torment 3
- verb bedevil to throw into confusion 3
- verb bedevil to possess, as with a devil 3
- verb transitive bedevil to plague diabolically; torment; harass 3
- verb transitive bedevil to possess as with a devil; bewitch 3
Information block about the term
Origin of bedevil
First appearance:
before 1760 One of the 46% newest English words
First recorded in 1760-70; be- + devil
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Bedevil
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
bedevil popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 77% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
According to our data about 56% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
bedevil usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for bedevil
verb bedevil
- annoy — If someone or something annoys you, it makes you fairly angry and impatient.
- bother — If you do not bother to do something or if you do not bother with it, you do not do it, consider it, or use it because you think it is unnecessary or because you are too lazy.
- irritate — to excite to impatience or anger; annoy.
- beset — If someone or something is beset by problems or fears, they have many problems or fears which affect them severely.
- harass — to disturb persistently; torment, as with troubles or cares; bother continually; pester; persecute.
Antonyms for bedevil
verb bedevil
- aid — Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.
- soothe — to tranquilize or calm, as a person or the feelings; relieve, comfort, or refresh: soothing someone's anger; to soothe someone with a hot drink.
- delight — Delight is a feeling of very great pleasure.
- assist — If you assist someone, you help them to do a job or task by doing part of the work for them.
- please — (used as a polite addition to requests, commands, etc.) if you would be so obliging; kindly: Please come here. Will you please turn the radio off?
Top questions with bedevil
- what does bedevil mean?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with b
- Words starting with be
- Words starting with bed
- Words starting with bede
- Words starting with bedev
- Words starting with bedevi
- Words starting with bedevil