devious

adjective

ˈdē-vē-əs How to pronounce devious (audio)
Definition of deviousnext
1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means we always left it to our most devious friends to find out the latest information

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in twisted
marked by a long series of irregular curves a devious trail through the swampland

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unnatural
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal her behavior is devious because of a developmental disorder

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of devious Perhaps Munro’s most popular role is as Betty’s devious dad, Hal Cooper, on Riverdale. — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 June 2026 Jeremy Strong is very good at playing devious men with very deep pockets. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 17 June 2026 While some believe that Trump is merely the conduit for devious legal advisors, his legal advisors say otherwise, giving Trump the credit for pushing them to try unorthodox angles. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 9 June 2026 Interruptions can also be undertaken by AI with a more devious intention. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for devious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devious
  1. cunning
  2. twisted
  3. unnatural
  4. cute
  5. winding
  6. abnormal
  7. subtle
  8. curved
Adjective
  • Supporters of the administration view this back and forth as a cunning ploy to buy time for the United States to position itself more advantageously for a confrontation.
    — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Owen is bamboozled by a cunning opportunist, handcuffed, and robbed in his underwear.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • Derby fixtures — meetings between teams brought together by geographical proximity and driven apart by rivalry — have their own twisted tempo and warped logic.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Some have described this play as biting political theater and others as a suspense thriller or a twisted rom-com.
    — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of twisted
Adjective
  • Her parents refuse to see that there is something unnatural about their new baby boy and that an evil other presence haunts their stately home.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers say the approach could help overcome limitations of existing humanoid control systems, which often require extensive fine-tuning or produce rigid, unnatural movements.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of unnatural
Adjective
  • But don’t let the cute style fool you—this look is super practical, too.
    — Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Continue down Main Street in Catskill to find tons of the cute shops upstate New York is known for, in particular Stay Forever for gifts, Spike’s for records, and Magpie for used books.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • Every floor and room is dedicated to specific watch brands and timepieces, featuring bespoke details like watch-hand door handles and winding-crown faucet handles, all crafted by Florentine artisans.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As such, the show takes you on a winding journey of France’s influential craftsmanship and its impact on America via archival looks, dazzling objects, and more modern creations.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 29 May 2026
Definition of winding
Adjective
  • Until recently, diagnosing Alzheimer’s required a medical history and exam as well as postmortem evidence of two abnormal proteins associated with the disease called amyloid and tau.
    — Anand Kumar, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The audit assistance tool, now a requirement by Flock Safety, flags abnormal use by officers.
    — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of abnormal
Adjective
  • Greenspan was renowned for his formidable data-crunching capabilities, sharp reading of market psychology, and subtle, often elusive communication style.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The cabin interiors are built from a lovely blonde wood, which was aesthetically pleasing, if a little creaky at times, while the white linens on the comfortable queen bed were a subtle reminder that this is a luxury accommodation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • Emirates’ massive suite, which is perched over the center of Ashe, is being remodeled this year to emulate the spacious lounges and curved bar on its double-decker Airbus 380 planes.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The darkening will be incredibly subtle compared to that of a partial lunar eclipse, where the moon passes into Earth's intense inner shadow — the umbra — revealing our planet's curved silhouette on the lunar surface.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of curved

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Cite this Entry

“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devious. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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