bedevil
C2Formal
Definition
Meaning
to cause great and continual trouble or difficulty for someone or something.
To torment, harass, or bewitch; to thoroughly confuse or complicate a situation, making it impossible to manage effectively.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used to describe persistent, gnawing problems rather than single events. Carries a sense of being plagued or haunted by difficulties, sometimes implying a malicious or supernatural agency in figurative use.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference in UK English for figurative use (e.g., 'bedevilled by doubts'), while US English may use it more in contexts of technical or systemic problems. Spelling: UK 'bedevilled', 'bedevilling'; US 'bedeviled', 'bedeviling'.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word retains a somewhat literary or dramatic tone. It is not colloquial.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but perhaps slightly more common in UK journalistic or political writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Something] bedevils [someone/something][Someone/Something] is bedevilled by [problems/issues]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No specific idiom, the verb itself is figurative)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The merger has been bedevilled by regulatory hurdles and internal disagreements."
Academic
"The historiography of the period is bedevilled by a lack of primary sources."
Everyday
(Rare in casual conversation) "Their holiday plans were bedevilled by one cancelled flight after another."
Technical
"Early versions of the software were bedevilled by memory leaks and random crashes."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Internal conflicts have bedevilled the committee from the outset.
- The team's campaign was bedevilled by injuries to key players.
American English
- Technical glitches bedeviled the new platform's launch.
- The negotiations have been bedeviled by a lack of trust on both sides.
adjective
British English
- A bedevilling sense of uncertainty hung over the proceedings.
- They faced a bedevilled and complex legal situation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not applicable at A2 level)
- (Rarely used at B1 level)
- Bad luck seemed to bedevil their every attempt to succeed.
- The construction project was bedevilled by poor weather and supply issues.
- The peace process has been bedevilled by mutual suspicion and historical grievances.
- Defining consciousness is a question that has bedevilled philosophers for centuries.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DEVIL sitting on your BED, causing you endless trouble and preventing you from sleeping. To BEDEVIL is to have a devilish problem persistently bothering you.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE DEMONS/TORMENTORS (A persistent problem is an evil entity that tortures or harasses).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'бесить' (to infuriate). It's not primarily about anger. Avoid 'запутывать' (to entangle/tangle) as it lacks the persistent torment aspect. Closer conceptual matches are 'преследовать (проблемы)', 'отравлять существование', 'терзать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for a one-time event (incorrect: *The storm bedevilled our picnic). Confusing it with 'bewilder' (which is more about confusion than persistent trouble).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following situations BEST illustrates the meaning of 'bedevil'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a C2-level word, used primarily in formal, literary, or journalistic contexts to describe persistent and troublesome problems.
No, it is exclusively negative, describing situations of trouble, difficulty, or torment.
'Bedevil' implies a more severe, persistent, and troublesome set of difficulties, often causing significant ongoing harm or obstruction. 'Bother' is much milder and more general.
Not directly. The related noun is 'bedevilment', but it is very rare. More common nouns to describe the state are 'plague', 'torment', or 'harassment'.