What does devilishness mean?
Devilishness is a noun describing the quality or state of being devilish — that is, wicked, fiendish, or mischievously troublesome in character or behavior. It derives from the adjective "devilish," which itself comes from "devil," a word rooted in the Greek diabolos, meaning slanderer or accuser. The term is comparatively rare and tends to appear in literary or descriptive prose rather than everyday conversation. Its connotation shifts with context: it can denote genuine malevolence, as in a villain's cruel cunning, or a lighter, playful naughtiness, as when a child's impish grin is described fondly. This flexibility makes the word useful for writers seeking to capture a spectrum of bad behavior, from sinister to slyly charming. Related forms include the adjectives devilish and the adverbs devilishly, devilry, and devilment, all sharing the same root.
nounThe quality of being devilish; wickedness or mischievousness of character, behavior, or appearance.
- The quality of being wicked, evil, or fiendish.
- Playful mischievousness or roguish impishness (often affectionate or humorous).
"There was a glint of pure devilishness in his eyes as he plotted the prank."
"The villain's plan revealed a chilling devilishness that unsettled even his allies."
"She grinned with such devilishness that everyone knew the cake was already stolen."
Rarely used in the plural; the word is normally treated as uncountable.
"The novel catalogued the devilishnesses of its many villains."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does devilishness come from?
Devilishness is formed from the adjective "devilish" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ness." "Devilish" traces back through Middle English to "devil," which comes from Old English dēofol, ultimately from Greek diabolos, meaning "slanderer" or "accuser." English has long built abstract nouns on this root, giving rise alongside devilishness to related coinages such as devilry and devilment.
Related word forms
How devilishness is actually used
The word is relatively rare and literary. It can carry a strongly negative sense (true wickedness) or a lighter, almost affectionate one (playful naughtiness), with context determining the tone.
Easily confused with devilishness
'Devolution' means the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, while 'devilishness' refers to wicked or mischievous quality — the words look similar but are entirely unrelated.