devilry

D2E1V4I1L1R1Y4
UK/ˈdɛv.əl.ɹi/UK/ˈdɛv.ɪl.ɹi/

noun

Mischief.

Similar
deviltrymischiefmischief-makingmischievousnessdevilmentrascalityrogueryroguishness
OriginMiddle English develrye →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

noundevilry (countable and uncountable, plural devilries)

plural devilries · alternative deviltry

  1. countableuncountableMischief.

    Their newfound devilry : prank-calling local businesses.

    2007 January 2, Arianne Cohen, Colleen Kinder, Confessions of a High School Word Nerd: Laugh Your Gluteus* Off and Increase Your SAT Verbal Score, Penguin, →ISBN, page 124
  2. countableuncountableWickedness; cruelty.

    "The Master's Society wishes to overturn the world order into his hands by devilry and chaos. There is good news that Mr. Stevens is repentant and under our employ and gave us a significant store of antidote for the violent toxin. We can dose the MPs."

    2016 August 9, Leanna Renee Hieber, Eterna and Omega: The Eterna Files #2, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 239
  3. countableuncountableAn action performed with the help of a devil; witchcraft.
  4. countableuncountableAn act of such mischief, wickedness, cruelty, or witchcraft.

    […] pranks and devilries which turned slowly more unpleasant.

    2023 September 19, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Untamed Shore, Del Rey, →ISBN

Synonyms & antonyms

nounwicked and cruel behavior

Similar
deviltry
Broader
evilimmoralitywickedness

nounreckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others

Similar
mischiefmischief-makingmischievousnessdeviltrydevilmentrascalityrogueryroguishnessshenanigan
Broader
misbehaviormisbehaviourmisdeed
Also see
badnessdevilmentdeviltrymalignitymischiefmischievousnessmonkey businessrascalityrogueryroguishnessshenaniganwrong

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishdevelrye
  2. Englishdevilry

From Middle English develrye; equivalent to devil + -ry.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian дяволия, злоба
  • дяволия (djavolija)mischief
  • злоба (zloba)wickedness, cruelty
  • жестокост (žestokost)wickedness, cruelty
Czech neplecha, nezbednost
  • neplechamischief
  • nezbednostmischief
  • šibalstvímischief
  • rošťáctvímischief
  • velké zlowickedness, cruelty
  • čárywitchcraft
  • černá magiewitchcraft
  • čarodějnictvíwitchcraft
  • rošťárnaAn act of such mischief, wickedness, cruelty or witchcraft
Danish drilagtighed, vildskab
  • drilagtighedmischief
  • vildskabwickedness, cruelty
German Unfug, böser Ulk
  • Unfugmischief
  • böser Ulkmischief
  • Quälereiwickedness, cruelty
  • Hexereiwitchcraft
  • TeufeleiAn act of such mischief, wickedness, cruelty or witchcraft
  • UnfugAn act of such mischief, wickedness, cruelty or witchcraft
  • HexereiAn act of such mischief, wickedness, cruelty or witchcraft
Irish diabhlaíocht, rógaireacht
  • diabhlaíochtmischief
  • rógaireachtmischief
  • áibhirseoireachtmischief
  • diabhlaíochtwitchcraft
Māori haututū, mōrikarika
  • haututūmischief
  • mōrikarikawickedness, cruelty
Norwegian Bokmål djevelskap, djevelskap
  • djevelskapmischief
  • djevelskapwickedness, cruelty
Portuguese diabrura, traquinagem
  • diabruramischief
  • traquinagemmischief
  • diabrurawickedness, cruelty
  • maldadewickedness, cruelty
  • bruxariawitchcraft
  • diabruraAn act of such mischief, wickedness, cruelty or witchcraft
Swedish djävulskap
  • djävulskapmischief
Cite this entry
APA

devilry. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/devilry

MLA

“devilry.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/devilry. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “devilry,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/devilry.

Source: devilry on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.