1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
the boy, who was once filled with diablerie, grew up to be a staid and rather dull man
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sorcery
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means
since the common folk had an unshakable belief in a personal devil, a charge of diablerie was taken seriously
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of diablerie
Groyperism is as much about fandom and diablerie as a set of principles.
—
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diablerie
Noun
-
He’s also charged with criminal mischief.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
In an alleged incident involving Mortensen in February 2023, Paul was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, according to police.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
In a feat of sorcery that should have other sandwich makers crying in their beer, the ciabatta roll here is tender and comparatively thin.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
She was found guilty of heresy and sorcery in 1441.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There was already this sort of more classical literary style and these more ornate sentences that are doing three different things at once, and some of the playfulness and the provocative and the prurient and the spiritual kind of call to care for the least of the people.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
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Much of the time is spent interacting with young schoolchildren, with whom Galifianakis exhibits a deadpan playfulness — testing them on names of apple varieties (McIntosh?—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Accused of witchcraft on her wedding day, a privileged young bride (Thatcher) is pursued by a ruthless witch hunter (Alwyn).—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Set in 1645, the story sees a privileged young bride (Thatcher) accused of witchcraft on her wedding day and pursued by a ruthless witch hunter (Alwyn).—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
5 Feb. 2025
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But even if truffles are beyond your pay grade, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in the sheer devilment portrayed in this informative and appetizing book.—
Eugenia Bone,
WSJ,
10 July 2019
Noun
-
The purest example are the rooftop concerts, a rather improbable attempt to bring a little bit of Beatles-style magic to Chicago’s Clark Street, where The Weiner’s Circle is parked.—
Jimmy Jellinek,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The magic of the molcajete, a pre-Hispanic mortar and pestle, is its ability to extract oils in a way the blades of a food processor can’t.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Still, the pure rascality in these extravagant self-inventions shouldn’t be overlooked.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
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Naturally, such rascality didn't do overall fuel economy any favors; in fact, my average was just 20 mpg (11.8 L/100 km) over the course of 125 miles at the E 350's helm.—
Peter Nelson,
Ars Technica,
18 Apr. 2024
Noun
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That’s how Trip Cullman’s taut, take-no-prisoners production plays it — the pulse is allegro, the casual tone spiked with gasp-inducing wickedness.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
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An opinion offered offhand suggests a secret wickedness that must be exorcised.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Diablerie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diablerie. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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