Beelzebub

noun

Beel·​ze·​bub bē-ˈel-zi-ˌbəb How to pronounce Beelzebub (audio)
ˈbēl-zi-, 
ˈbel- How to pronounce Beelzebub (audio)
Synonyms of Beelzebubnext
1
: devil
2
: a fallen angel in Milton's Paradise Lost ranking next to Satan

Synonyms of Beelzebub

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Examples of Beelzebub in a Sentence

Beelzebub himself could not change her mind.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The baying of Beelzebub begins and keeps beginning. — Patricia Smith, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 Schmidt is said to be possessed by four entities that announce themselves as Beelzebub, betraying disciple Judas, Schmidt's abusive father Jacob and Mina (Jacob's lover and Schmidt's aunt). — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 8 June 2025 The Zeros are sworn to Evil and to its incarnate commander, Beelzebub (Fabrice Luchini), who barks his orders from a Versailles-like castle in the sky above the village. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025 Fraser was bedeviled by Elizabeth Hurley’s Beelzebub in Bedazzled (2000), earned career-best reviews for the Vietnam drama The Quiet American (2002), and landed a role in the Best Picture-winning Crash (2004). — Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 26 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for Beelzebub

Word History

Etymology

Beelzebub, prince of devils, from Latin, from Greek Beelzeboub, from Hebrew Baʽal zĕbhūbh, a Philistine god, literally, lord of flies

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Beelzebub was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

bee louse
Beelzebub
beeman
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Cite this Entry

“Beelzebub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Beelzebub. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Beelzebub

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Beelzebub

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