bedevil

[ bih-dev-uh l ]
/ bɪˈdɛv əl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR bedevil ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), be·dev·iled, be·dev·il·ing or (especially British) be·dev·illed, be·dev·il·ling.

to torment or harass maliciously or diabolically, as with doubts, distractions, or worries.
to possess, as with a devil; bewitch.
to cause confusion or doubt in; muddle; confound: an issue bedeviled by prejudices.
to beset or hamper continuously: a new building bedeviled by elevator failures.

Origin of bedevil

First recorded in 1760–70; be- + devil

OTHER WORDS FROM bedevil

be·dev·il·ment, noun

Words nearby bedevil

bedeck, bedeguar, bedehouse, bedel, bedesman, bedevil, bedew, bedfast, bedfellow, bedford, bedford cord

Words related to bedevil

annoy, bother, irritate, beset, harass, torment, baffle, rattle, unsettle, unhinge, provoke, bug, badger, fluster, muddle, bewilder

Example sentences from the Web for bedevil

British Dictionary definitions for bedevil

bedevil
/ (bɪˈdɛvəl) /

verb -ils, -illing or -illed or US -ils, -iling or -iled (tr)

to harass or torment
to throw into confusion
to possess, as with a devil

Derived forms of bedevil

bedevilment, noun