noun
Freq #133270
Meanings
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1
noun
wicked, malicious, or recklessly mischievous behavior
The raiders' calculated deviltry left the isolated settlement terrified.
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2
noun
a wicked or mischievous act, scheme, or contrivance
The memoir recounts every deviltry the conspirators attempted.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Formed from devil with the noun-forming ending -try, probably influenced by words for practices or kinds of conduct. It is especially common in American English as a variant of devilry, meaning wickedness or mischievous wrongdoing.