Phrase guide

the devil

adv · name · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adv

Meaning 1

Used to add emphasis to a question or statement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • What the devil are you doing here at this time of night?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: the dickens

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Alternative letter-case form of the devil.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

name

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see the, Devil.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

something difficult or awkward to do or deal with

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • it will be the devil to solve

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: trouble, difficulty

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Breton: an diaoul — adds emphasis to a question or statement
  • Portuguese: diabos — adds emphasis to a question or statement