What does bedevilment mean?
Bedevilment is a formal English noun denoting the state of being persistently harassed, tormented, or afflicted by troubles, doubts, or hostile forces. Derived from the verb "to bedevil," which literally suggests being plagued by devils, the word carries vivid connotations of relentless, almost malicious adversity — the kind of difficulty that seems determined to pursue someone or something over time rather than strike once. It is most often found in literary, journalistic, or reflective writing: one might speak of the bedevilment of a long-running legal dispute, the bedevilment of a political career by scandal, or the bedevilment of a community by recurring hardship. Because it implies duration and repetition, it differs from words like "setback" or "crisis," which suggest discrete events. Though uncommon in everyday speech, bedevilment offers writers a precise and evocative term for sustained suffering at the hands of circumstance, and its devilish imagery gives it a memorable, slightly dramatic flavor.
nounThe state or condition of being bedeviled; persistent harassment, torment, or affliction by troubles, doubts, or hostile forces.
- Persistent harassment or torment by troubles, difficulties, or hostile forces; the state of being continually afflicted.
- Confusion or disorientation caused by persistent complications or interference.
"After years of financial setbacks and legal disputes, the company's bedevilment seemed almost too relentless to be coincidence."
"The committee's work was hampered by the constant bedevilment of budget shortfalls and staff turnover."
"In her memoir she describes the bedevilment she suffered at the hands of an anonymous online harasser."
Rarely used; the plural appears mainly in literary contexts referring to multiple distinct sources or episodes of torment.
"The novel catalogues the many bedevilments of its protagonist with dark humor."
"Bedevilment" is one of the few English nouns that openly admits the devil himself is to blame — its very structure tells you someone's been harassed by forces that feel almost supernatural in their persistence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bedevilment
Bedevilment derives from the verb "bedevil," which was formed in English from the noun "devil" combined with the prefix "be-" (used here in the sense of thoroughly or completely). The verb "bedevil" appeared in English around the late 16th or early 17th century, originally suggesting torment or possession by devils before broadening to mean any persistent harassment or confusion. The noun "bedevilment" was subsequently formed by adding the noun-forming suffix "-ment" to the verb. Its root, ultimately traceable to the Greek "diabolos" (accuser, slanderer), links it etymologically to words such as "devilish," "devilry," and "diabolical."
Related word forms
How bedevilment is actually used
Bedevilment is a relatively rare, formal noun, more common in written than spoken English. It typically appears in literary, journalistic, or reflective contexts where a writer wants a slightly elevated word for prolonged trouble or harassment. It carries a strongly negative connotation and usually implies repeated or sustained affliction rather than a single setback. The verb "bedevil" is considerably more frequent than the noun.
Easily confused with bedevilment
Devastation refers to severe destruction or ruin, while bedevilment refers to ongoing harassment or being plagued by persistent troubles.
Bewilderment means confusion or puzzlement, whereas bedevilment means being tormented or persistently afflicted — though both share a similar suffix and can describe states of distress.