she-devil: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Literary, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “she-devil” mean?
A wicked, cruel, or malicious woman.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wicked, cruel, or malicious woman.
An intensely unpleasant, spiteful, or scheming woman; a female personification of evil or temptation. May be used hyperbolically to describe a woman who is merely difficult or fierce.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Possibly more frequent in older British literary/gothic contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly pejorative, often with archaic or dramatic overtones. Can be used humorously.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary formal use; found more in literature, film titles, or expressive insults.
Grammar
How to Use “she-devil” in a Sentence
[Determiner] + she-devilbe + a + she-devilVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare and highly inappropriate; would be considered unprofessional and sexist.
Academic
Only in literary analysis (e.g., of gothic or archetypal characters).
Everyday
Rare; used for strong emphasis, often humorously or in heated arguments.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “she-devil”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Applying it to a man (use 'devil' alone).
- Overusing it as a general insult.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can be considered sexist as it uses a gendered prefix to denote extreme wickedness, reinforcing negative stereotypes about women. It is dated and should be used with great caution, if at all.
Yes, it is sometimes used in a hyperbolic or campy way, especially in fiction or light-hearted insults among friends who understand the tone. However, the risk of causing offence remains.
A 'witch' often has connotations of magic, the supernatural, and historical persecution. A 'she-devil' emphasises pure malice, evil, and moral corruption, with stronger ties to religious/demonic imagery.
The simple term 'devil' can be used for a man. Specific male equivalents in tone might be 'demon' or 'fiend', but they lack the gendered component.
A wicked, cruel, or malicious woman.
She-devil is usually informal, literary, figurative in register.
She-devil: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃiː ˈdev.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃiː ˈdev.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a female version of the classic red-horned 'devil' figure, emphasising wickedness.
Conceptual Metaphor
WOMAN IS A DEMON / FEMALE WICKEDNESS IS SUPERNATURAL EVIL
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'she-devil' be LEAST appropriate?