Bedeviling

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To inflict serious difficulties on someone, causing both distress and confusion through complex or troublesome circumstances
2. To trouble or vex someone significantly by presenting them with puzzling and challenging situations that are hard to navigate
3. To cause someone ongoing frustration and confusion through persistent and complex challenges that disrupt their peace of mind

Etymology: "Bedevil" is built from the familiar "devil" plus the prefix "be-", and the older root behind it is more striking than the English pieces suggest. "Devil" comes from Greek "diabolos", literally "slanderer" or "one who throws across", from "dia-" meaning "across" and "ballein" meaning "to throw". Latin borrowed it as "diabolus", and it reached Old English as "dēofol" with the sense of the chief spirit of evil. Through that lineage, the English word for the devil carries the idea of hurling accusations at someone. English later attached the prefix "be-", which in verbs often means "to affect thoroughly" or "to treat in a certain way", so "bedevil" originally meant to treat someone or something as if they were possessed by a devil. Over time the sense softened from literal demonic affliction to the everyday notion of tormenting or confounding someone with constant trouble.

Synonyms: tormenting, harassing, troubling, vexing, plaguing

Antonyms: comforting, soothing, relieving, calming, assisting