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
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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
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Recent Examples of devious
Interruptions can also be undertaken by AI with a more devious intention.
—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2026
Why so many charmers, devious or otherwise?
—
Anna Russell,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
The 21st century has yielded no shortage of stylish horror marbled with devious veins of pitch-dark humor — Peter Strickland’s In Fabric, Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook, Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies, Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell, pretty much every Jordan Peele feature.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Adam’s devious plan and meddling soon sets everything, and everyone, spiraling out of control.
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devious
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2026
Why so many charmers, devious or otherwise?
—
Anna Russell,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
The 21st century has yielded no shortage of stylish horror marbled with devious veins of pitch-dark humor — Peter Strickland’s In Fabric, Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook, Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies, Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell, pretty much every Jordan Peele feature.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Adam’s devious plan and meddling soon sets everything, and everyone, spiraling out of control.
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devious
Adjective
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That doesn't enable cunning and unprincipled men to subvert the power of the people.
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For decades, humans mined antibiotic molecules from microbes and tweaked them to develop new drugs, staying ahead of evolution’s cunning countermeasures.
Adjective
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Previously, there was about a 2-inch dropoff on either sideline behind the benches, which posed a risk of a twisted ankle if a player ran too far out of bounds.
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Deep in the 531,148-acre Nantahala National Forest stands a towering and twisted hemlock that appears to be dead, but is very much alive on the inside with a colony of bats.
Adjective
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Even after extensive engineering, Coach Eve would take about three seconds to reply to a question—a delay users felt was uncomfortable and unnatural.
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His speech was an unnatural blur.
Adjective
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Berries, given their naturally tiny nature, are a super cute choice.
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The pair have to find their friends (JJ included) which leads to a cute game of peekaboo.
Adjective
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But what once looked like a potential breakout career in San Francisco has instead become a winding journey through multiple organizations, with the latest chapter ending after a short stay in the Dodgers' system.
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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.
Adjective
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In this context, when screening healthy asymptomatic people who aren’t at high risk, the chance at an ideal screening result of identifying abnormal tissue that can be eliminated is very low.
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The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.
Adjective
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Obviously there’s a resemblance but in a really subtle and tasteful way.
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Your reward will be the sight of a tiny pale point with a subtle blue-green tint.
Adjective
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Using original photographs, and input from the Pourtout archives, the restoration team reversed the ungainly Saoutchik body modifications, and the curved windshield and twin rear-window design returned.
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Flat composite panels transform into curved blades The new method uses 4D printing, which means materials can change shape after they are made.
Cite this Entry
“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devious. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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