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Devilishly: meaning, definitions and examples

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devilishly

 

[ ˈdɛv.əl.ɪʃ.li ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

manner of behavior

The term 'devilishly' is often used to describe actions or behaviors that are mischievous, sly, or cunning in nature. It carries a connotation of being delightfully wicked or playfully evil. When something is done devilishly well, it implies a high level of skill combined with a hint of mischief. The term can also denote a sense of enjoyment derived from creating trouble or chaos, often in a charming or attractive way.

Synonyms

cunningly, mischievously, slyly, wickedly

Examples of usage

  • He smiled devilishly as he plotted his surprise.
  • She devilishly outsmarted her opponents in the game.
  • Their laughter was devilishly inviting during the party.

Translations

Translations of the word "devilishly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 diabolicamente

🇮🇳 शैतानी तरीके से

🇩🇪 teuflisch

🇮🇩 dengan jahat

🇺🇦 дияволськи

🇵🇱 diabelsko

🇯🇵 悪魔的に (akumateki ni)

🇫🇷 diaboliquement

🇪🇸 diabólicamente

🇹🇷 şeytanca

🇰🇷 악마처럼 (akma cheoreom)

🇸🇦 بشكل شيطاني (bishakl shaytani)

🇨🇿 ďábelsky

🇸🇰 diabolsky

🇨🇳 恶魔般地 (èmó bān de)

🇸🇮 hudičevo

🇮🇸 djöfullslega

🇰🇿 жындандық түрде

🇬🇪 ეშმაკურად (eshmakurad)

🇦🇿 şeytanca

🇲🇽 diabólicamente

Word origin

The word 'devilishly' derives from the root word 'devil,' which comes from the Old English 'deofol,' itself tracing back to the Proto-Germanic '*diabula' and the Latin 'diabolus.' The Latin term comes from the Greek 'diabolos,' meaning 'slanderer' or 'accuser.' By the late 14th century, 'devil' was established in Middle English with connotations of a supernatural being embodying evil. The adverb '-ishly' suffix indicates manner or behavior, thus making 'devilishly' refer to actions reminiscent of devilish behavior. This linguistic evolution captures the mischievous and wicked characteristics associated with the devil in various cultural traditions, where the devil is often depicted as a tempter or trickster.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,097, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.