the Devil

1 of 2

noun (1)

: the most powerful spirit of evil in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam who is often represented as the ruler of hell

the devil

2 of 2

noun (2)

informal
1
used to make a statement or question more forceful
What the devil are you talking about?
Where the devil have you been?
2
: something that is very difficult or that causes a lot of trouble
The shoes look great, but they're the devil to walk in.

Examples of the Devil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Sammie is the son of a preacher named Jedidiah (Saul Williams), who disapproves of his music, warning him that the Devil is near at hand. Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 At the heart of the film is Sammie (Miles Caton), an aspiring young Blues guitarist whose father, Jedidiah (Saul Williams), believes this path will only lead him to the Devil. Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025 Severance star Britt Lower will star alongside David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil), Anna Baryshnikov (Love Lies Bleeding) and Jamie Lee Curtis (The Last Showgirl) in Sender, a new psychological horror film produced by the latter. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2025 The Bondsman Kevin Bacon plays the titular bounty hunter who is brought back from the dead to track down demons for the Devil. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the Devil

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The Devil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20Devil. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!