devilnoun
uk/ˈdev.əl/us/ˈdev.əl/devil noun (EVIL BEING)
B2 [ C ] an evil being, often represented in human form but with a tail and horns
the devil [ S ] often the Devil
a powerful evil force and the enemy of God in Christianity and Judaism
Examples
- He's a sly old devil - I wouldn't trust him with my money.
- André's got a new job, the lucky devil.
- Gothic churches are full of devils and grotesque figures.
- One survivor described his torturers as devils incarnate.
- The devil was painted with horns and cloven hoofs.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Religious concepts: devils
- Antichrist
- demon
- Lucifer
- Mephistopheles
- Old Nick
- Satan
- satanic
devil noun (PERSON)
C2 [ C ] informal someone, especially a child, who behaves badly:
Those little/young devils broke my window.
[ C ] informal humorous a person who enjoys doing things people might disapprove of:
"I'm going to wear a short black skirt and thigh-length boots." "Ooh, you devil!"
Have another slice of cake - go on, be a devil!
[ C ] informal used with an adjective to describe someone and express your opinion about something that has happened to them:
I hear you've got a new car, you lucky devil!
He's been ill for weeks, poor devil.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Children & babies
- a mouth to feed idiom
- arrival
- babe
- babe in arms
- baby
- childlike
- childproof
- children
- crawler
- designer baby
- oops-a-daisy
- pacifier
- papoose
- perisher
- pest
- tomboy
- tot
- tyke
- urchin
- waif
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Unpleasant people in general
People in general
Idiom(s)
be between the devil and the deep blue sea
the devil finds work for idle hands
the devil to pay
the devil's own
(to) give the devil his due
go to the devil
speak/talk of the devil
the/a devil of a sth
what/where/how/why the devil