devilry
noun
dev·il·ry ˈde-vᵊl-rē 
variants or deviltry
ˈde-vᵊl-trē
plural devilries or deviltries
1
a
: action performed with the help of the devil : witchcraft
b
: wickedness
c
: mischief
2
: an act of devilry
Synonyms
- devilishness
- devilment
- diablerie
- espièglerie
- hob
- impishness
- knavery
- mischief
- mischievousness
- rascality
- roguery
- roguishness
- shenanigan(s)
- waggery
- waggishness
- wickedness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
children always getting into some devilry superstitious villagers who were quick to attribute an unexpected occurrence to devilry
Recent Examples on the Web Who are the sword and sorcery protagonists that scratch your itch for devilry and adventure? 
Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2021 Suddenly, modernists were jockeying to impose some glass-and-steel devilry atop the old dame. Shawn Mccreesh, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2021 Before long, the angry and injured young wife is the one on trial for witchcraft — fighting for her life as the apparent evidence of devilry accrues. BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2021 Aboard the ship, mysterious devilry begins to take place and a demon is suspected to be behind it. Kami Phillips, CNN Underscored, 8 Oct. 2020 The mildly disastrous consequences of Eddie’s devilry predictably set up the big moment at the end of the show in which Ward or June Cleaver would distill an important Life Lesson from the experience. Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 19 May 2020 These winged insects pollinate plants, inspire funny memes, and rule the night like fluttery little kings, felled only by the devilry of porch lights masquerading as the moon. Sarah Todd, Quartz at Work, 23 Oct. 2019 See More
Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2021 Suddenly, modernists were jockeying to impose some glass-and-steel devilry atop the old dame. Shawn Mccreesh, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2021 Before long, the angry and injured young wife is the one on trial for witchcraft — fighting for her life as the apparent evidence of devilry accrues. BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2021 Aboard the ship, mysterious devilry begins to take place and a demon is suspected to be behind it. Kami Phillips, CNN Underscored, 8 Oct. 2020 The mildly disastrous consequences of Eddie’s devilry predictably set up the big moment at the end of the show in which Ward or June Cleaver would distill an important Life Lesson from the experience. Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 19 May 2020 These winged insects pollinate plants, inspire funny memes, and rule the night like fluttery little kings, felled only by the devilry of porch lights masquerading as the moon. Sarah Todd, Quartz at Work, 23 Oct. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English develrye, from devel devil entry 1 + -rye -ry
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
devilry
noun
variants or deviltry
1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm children always getting into some devilry Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- mischief
- mischievousness
- devilment
- naughtiness
- devilishness
- rascality
- wickedness
- roguery
- roguishness
- knavery
- diablerie
- impishness
- hob
- playfulness
- waggery
- waggishness
- trickery
- monkeying
- shenanigan(s)
- buffoonery
- espièglerie
- chicanery
- tomfoolery
- annoyance
- misbehavior
- misconduct
- troublemaking
- sportiveness
- irritation
- trick
- friskiness
- antic
- exasperation
- skylarking
- horseplay
- caper
- high jinks
- monkey business
- hijinks
- diabolicalness
- practical joke
- roughhousing
- hanky-panky
- goings-on
- aggravation
- monkeyshine(s)
- dido
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- seriousness
- gravity
- solemnity
- solemnness
- gravitas
2
as in witchcraft
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means superstitious villagers who were quick to attribute an unexpected occurrence to devilry Synonyms & Similar Words
- witchcraft
- sorcery
- conjuring
- magic
- enchantment
- wizardry
- witchery
- conjuration
- divination
- necromancy
- bewitchment
- mojo
- thaumaturgy
- divining
- diablerie
- curse
- voodooism
- spell
- mascot
- spiritualism
- bewitchery
- talisman
- glamour
- incantation
- ensorcellment
- amulet
- charm
- occultism
- fetish
- sortilege
- alchemy
- soothsaying
- phylactery
- fetich
- glamor
- omen
- presaging
- jinx
- exorcism
- abracadabra
- foreseeing
- predicting
- prophesying
- foretelling
- crystal gazing
- forecasting
- foreknowing
- augury
- prognosticating
- hoodoo
- augur
- periapt
- fortune-telling
- hex
- hexerei
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- science