bedevil

To bedevil someone is to persistently annoy, trouble, or harass them. While it can describe a mischievous little brother teasing his sister, it more frequently applies to stubborn, lingering problems that refuse to go away. Think of a complex project bedeviled by constant technical glitches; it doesn't just face one hurdle, but a series of irritating obstacles. The word suggests a persistent nuisance that makes progress difficult.

The origin of "bedevil" is linked to Middle English and Old English roots for "devil" (deofol), with the prefix be- adding force. While we no longer use it to describe literal possession, the sense of being harassed or plagued by recurring troubles remains central to its meaning.

The word "bedevil" means to trouble, harass, or plague someone or something relentlessly. It suggests a stubborn and frustrating form of torment that is difficult to shake off. For example, you might say, "Mosquitoes bedeviled the campers all night," meaning the insects were a constant, unavoidable nuisance. In a more serious tone, one might say, "Financial worries bedeviled the family for years," suggesting a weight that they could never quite escape.

Bedevil can be used literally to describe physical harassment, but it is most often used figuratively. A recurring policy issue might bedevil a city council for a decade, or a particularly tricky math problem might bedevil a student during a final exam. It implies that the source of the trouble is not just difficult, but stubbornly persistent.

The word's history stems from the belief that one could be "possessed by a devil" or tormented by supernatural forces. While modern usage has moved away from the occult, the word still carries an evocative punch. It is a more colorful way to say "beset" or "plague," suggesting that the problems are conspiring against you in a way that is both confusing and exhausting. If a situation is constantly causing you grief or acting as a permanent thorn in your side, it is undoubtedly bedeviling you.