Devil: meaning and synonyms

Devil is a word with several meanings. It can refer to an evil supernatural being, the devil in religious tradition, a mischievous person, a mild exclamation, or the verb meaning to coat food with a spicy paste.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /ˈdɛvəl/

Easy pronunciation: DEV-uhl (approximate spelling).

Stress: Stress the first syllable.

Primary sense: the chief evil spirit in religious belief.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Devil Meaning

the main evil spirit in religion

Part of speech: noun

Definition: the chief evil spirit in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic belief; Satan

Example: Many stories describe the devil as the source of temptation and evil.

Synonyms for this meaning:

Satan — Standard substitute for the religious figure.
Lucifer — Used as a name for the devil in some traditions and contexts.
Beelzebub — A traditional name for the devil, often in religious or literary usage.
Old Nick — Informal old-fashioned name for the devil.
Prince of Darkness — Literary or religious title for the devil.
the tempter — Used for the devil as one who tempts people.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Devil

Meaning 2

a bad spirit or demon-like being

Part of speech: noun

Definition: an evil supernatural being

Example: The legend spoke of a devil haunting the mountain.

Synonyms for this meaning:

demon — A supernatural evil being.
fiend — Can mean an evil supernatural creature in older or literary usage.
daemon — Used in older or literary contexts for a supernatural being.
daimon — A variant used in literary or classical contexts.

Meaning 3

a very cruel person

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a cruel, wicked, or inhuman person

Example: He said the guard was a devil for treating people so harshly.

Synonyms for this meaning:

demon — Used figuratively for a very bad person.
fiend — Strong substitute for a cruel or wicked person.
monster — Used for a brutally cruel person.
ogre — Can describe a cruel or frightening person.

Meaning 4

a mischievous or wild person

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a rowdy or mischievous person, especially a young man

Example: As a child, he was a little devil and always getting into trouble.

Synonyms for this meaning:

heller — Informal word for a wild or troublesome person.
hellion — A strong match for a troublesome, unruly person.

Meaning 5

an exclamation in phrases like what the devil

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a word used in exclamations of confusion

Example: What the devil is going on here?

Synonyms for this meaning:

deuce — Used in mild exclamations such as 'what the deuce'.
dickens — Old-fashioned mild exclamation, as in 'what the dickens'.

Meaning 6

to annoy someone

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to irritate or annoy by small but repeated actions

Example: Stop deviling me with constant questions.

Synonyms for this meaning:

annoy — Direct everyday substitute.
bother — Common, natural synonym.
irritate — Works well for repeated irritation.
vex — Slightly formal, but genuine synonym.
rile — Informal synonym.
nettle — Can mean to annoy or provoke.
chafe — Can mean to irritate, especially over time.
nark — Informal British synonym.
rag — Informal synonym.
get at — Can mean to annoy persistently.
get to — Informal synonym for upsetting or annoying someone.
gravel — Rare and less common, but fits this sense.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Devil Synonyms

Similar Meaning

Satan
Lucifer
Beelzebub
Old Nick
Prince of Darkness
the tempter

an evil supernatural being

demon
fiend
daemon
daimon

a cruel, wicked, or inhuman person

fiend
monster
ogre
demon

a rowdy or mischievous person

hellion
heller

a word used in exclamations of confusion

deuce
dickens

to irritate or annoy by small but repeated actions

annoy
bother
irritate
vex
rile
nettle
chafe
nark
rag
get at
get to
gravel

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Devil does not usually mean simply 'a bad person' in every context; the sense depends on whether it refers to religion, a supernatural being, a cruel person, or a mischievous person.
Devil the verb means 'to annoy' or 'to coat food with a spicy paste'—those are different senses.
Devilled eggs are eggs seasoned with a spicy filling; this is not the same as the noun meaning 'the devil'.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main meaning of devil?

The main meaning is the chief evil spirit in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic tradition, usually identified with Satan.

Is devil the same as demon?

Not always. Devil can refer to Satan specifically, while demon usually means an evil supernatural being more generally.

Can devil mean a person?

Yes. It can describe a cruel, wicked person or, in a milder way, a mischievous or rowdy person.

What does devilling mean?

As a verb, it can mean annoying someone or preparing food with a spicy paste, depending on the context.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.