DEVILISH

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does devilish mean? 

• DEVILISH (adjective)
  The adjective DEVILISH has 2 senses:

1. showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil

2. playful in an appealingly bold way

  Familiarity information: DEVILISH used as an adjective is rare.

• DEVILISH (adverb)
  The adverb DEVILISH has 1 sense:

1. in a playfully devilish manner

  Familiarity information: DEVILISH used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEVILISH (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil

Synonyms:

devilish; diabolic; diabolical; mephistophelean; mephistophelian

Context example:

a mephistophelian glint in his eye

Similar:

evil (morally bad or wrong)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Playful in an appealingly bold way

Synonyms:

devilish; rascally; roguish

Context example:

a roguish grin

Similar:

playful (full of fun and high spirits)

• DEVILISH (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a playfully devilish manner

Synonyms:

devilish; devilishly

Context example:

the socialists are further handicapped if they believe that capitalists are not only wicked but also devilishly clever

 Context examples 

It is the most devilish little rickety business I ever beheld!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

So, when his blue moods come on, nothing remains for him, but to be devilish.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish trade-mark upon them.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The wretch saw me destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for happiness, and with a howl of devilish despair and revenge, withdrew.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

“It’s devilish, Mr. Holmes, devilish!” cried Mortimer Tregennis.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I believe these villains have enticed him out by some devilish device of their own. Hold the lamp, nephew. Ha! I thought so. Here are his footmarks upon the flower-bed outside.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That devilish Professor you were always writing about.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

You're a devilish amiable-looking fellow, Copperfield.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He began to go wrong, wrong in mind; and though of course I continue to take an interest in him for old sake’s sake, as they say, I see and I have seen devilish little of the man.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

According as the shifting obscurity and flickering gleam hovered here or glanced there, it was now the bearded physician, Luke, that bent his brow; now St. John's long hair that waved; and anon the devilish face of Judas, that grew out of the panel, and seemed gathering life and threatening a revelation of the arch-traitor—of Satan himself—in his subordinate's form.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)