deviltry

dev·il·try

D0180900 (dĕv′əl-trē) or dev·il·ry (-əl-rē)n. pl. dev·il·tries or dev·il·ries 1. Reckless mischief.2. Extreme cruelty; wickedness.3. Evil magic; witchcraft.4. An act of mischief, cruelty, or witchcraft.

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[Alteration (influenced by such words as gallantry) of devilry.]

dev•il•try

(ˈdɛv əl tri)

n., pl. -tries. 1. mischievous behavior. 2. extreme or utter wickedness. 3. an act or instance of mischievous or wicked behavior. 4. diabolic magic or art. [1780–90; variant of devilry]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	deviltry - wicked and cruel behaviordevilryevil, wickedness, immorality, iniquity - morally objectionable behavior
	2.	deviltry - reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in othersmischief, mischief-making, devilment, roguery, shenanigan, roguishness, devilry, mischievousness, rascalitymisbehavior, misbehaviour, misdeed - improper or wicked or immoral behaviorblaze, hell - noisy and unrestrained mischief; "raising blazes"monkey business - mischievous or deceitful behaviorhooliganism, malicious mischief, vandalism - willful wanton and malicious destruction of the property of others

deviltry

noun1. Annoying yet harmless, usually playful acts:devilry, diablerie, high jinks, impishness, mischief, mischievousness, prankishness, rascality, roguery, roguishness, tomfoolery.Informal: shenanigan (often used in plural).2. A wicked act or wicked behavior:crime, diablerie, evil, evildoing, immorality, iniquity, misdeed, offense, peccancy, sin, wickedness, wrong, wrongdoing.