devilism

devilism

A person's devilism is revealed in their cruel actions.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Wickedness or cruelty: "devilism" refers to the quality or state of being devilish, characterized by extreme malice, cruelty, or evil behavior.
    • Worship of devils: "devilism" also denotes the practice of worshipping or revering devils, often associated with demonolatry or satanic cults.
Usage Examples

  • Wickedness or cruelty:

    • The novel explores the depths of human devilism, showing how ordinary people can commit terrible acts. (The novel examines extreme evil in human nature.)
    • His devilism was evident in the way he tormented the animals. (His cruel behavior was clear from his actions.)

  • Worship of devils:

    • Some ancient cultures practiced devilism, offering sacrifices to malevolent spirits. (Some old cultures engaged in devil worship.)
    • The historian studied the rise of devilism in medieval Europe. (The historian researched the growth of demon worship in that period.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to descend into devilism": to become increasingly evil or cruel.

    • The tyrant's rule saw the kingdom descend into devilism. (The kingdom became more wicked under the tyrant.)

  • "a streak of devilism": a tendency toward mischievous or malicious behavior.

    • Despite his kind nature, he had a streak of devilism that emerged when he was bored. (He sometimes showed a malicious side.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Devilish (adj): resembling or characteristic of a devil; wicked or mischievous.

    • She gave a devilish grin before pulling the prank. (She smiled mischievously.)

  • Devilry (n): wicked or mischievous behavior; also, black magic or sorcery.

    • The children were up to some devilry in the backyard. (The children were being mischievous.)
Synonyms
  • Evil: morally bad or wrong.
  • Malice: the intention to do harm.
  • Demonolatry: the worship of demons (specific to the second meaning).
Phrasal Verbs
Related Idioms

  • To play the devil with: to cause great harm or trouble to something.

    • The storm played the devil with the crops. (The storm severely damaged the crops.)

  • To raise the devil: to cause a disturbance or uproar.

    • He raised the devil when he found out his car had been stolen. (He became very angry and caused a commotion.)