US /ˈdɛvəlmənt/ UK /ˈdɛvəlmənt/
noun Freq #121792

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    mischievous, reckless, or troublesome behavior

    The children planned an afternoon of harmless devilment in the garden.

  2. 2
    noun

    a mischievous or wicked quality in someone's character or expression

    A flash of devilment in her eyes warned us that a prank was coming.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · mischievous, reckless, or... mischiefdevilry
2 noun · a mischievous or wicked... mischievousnessimpishness
Opposites
good behaviorinnocence
Word family
Related forms devilmischiefdevilish

Etymology

Formed in English from devil + -ment. The suffix turns the idea of behaving like a devil into a noun for wickedness, mischief, or a playfully troublesome spirit.

Topics

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