What does bedeviled mean?
Bedeviled describes someone or something persistently tormented, harassed, or beset by ongoing troubles — whether practical obstacles, emotional doubts, or recurring misfortunes. It functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb 'bedevil', which literally evokes the idea of being given over to the devil's torment, though in modern usage it carries no supernatural implication. The word typically appears with the preposition 'by', as in a policy bedeviled by controversy or a writer bedeviled by deadlines. Its connotations are more vivid and slightly more formal than those of everyday alternatives like 'troubled', giving writing a touch of drama without excess. Because it implies repeated, nagging difficulty rather than a single setback, it suits contexts of chronic problems — long-standing disputes, stubborn flaws, persistent anxieties — making it a useful word for describing situations that refuse to resolve.
Past tense and past participle of 'bedevil': to torment, harass, or persistently trouble.
"The committee was bedeviled by infighting for months."
Describing something or someone that is persistently plagued or troubled.
"A bedeviled administration struggled to pass any legislation."
Adjectival use is less common than the verbal form but well established.
The word literally means 'to be given the devil' — an old-fashioned way of saying your troubles just won't let go.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bedeviled
'Bedevil' emerged in English in the 18th century as a compound of the prefix 'be-' and 'devil', essentially meaning to give someone over to the devil or treat them devilishly. It developed from older senses of 'devil' as a verb meaning to torment or spoil, and its figurative use to describe persistent harassment or muddling became established over time. The word shares its root with other devil-derived terms such as 'devilish', 'fiendish', and 'diabolical', all tracing back ultimately to Greek 'diabolos', meaning slanderer or accuser.
Related word forms
How bedeviled is actually used
Typically used with 'by' to indicate what is causing the trouble. Carries a slightly literary or formal tone compared to plain 'plagued'.
Easily confused with bedeviled
'Deviled' refers to food seasoned with hot spices (e.g. deviled eggs) or something made fiendishly difficult, whereas 'bedeviled' means persistently tormented or plagued.