DEVIOUS Synonyms: 203 Similar and Opposite Words

devious

adjective

ˈdē-vē-əs

Definition of devious

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

as in twisted

marked by a long series of irregular curves a devious trail through the swampland

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The cowardly, devious Turgeniev has assimilated to the comforts of the West —that alone is enough for Fyodor to detest him. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 The plot involves two sons of rich, miserly fathers in love with girls their fathers will never approve of and what happens when the fathers’ devious servants decide to give the boys a hand. — Lonnie Burstein Hewitt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2026 One by one, suitors including the devious Antinous (Robert Pattinson) fail at the challenge, until Odysseus volunteers and succeeds with ease. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 July 2026 The series, which ended in 2007, also starred Nancy Sullivan and Jonathan Goldstein as Drake's mom and Josh's dad, respectively, and Miranda Cosgrove as Drake's devious younger sister Megan. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for devious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for devious

Adjective

Magpies are opportunistic scavengers, incredibly cunning and deceitful and capable of calculated deception.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Last week, Alan Cumming’s cunning competition empire The Traitors unsheathed its most diabolical twist yet.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of cunning

Adjective

Whether the presentment was fair or not is a legitimate subject for dispute, along with the appeals court’s twisted excuse that the $10 million wasn’t public money to begin with.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
What remained was wreckage — twisted metal, pieces of the balloon — and the smell of something burned.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of twisted

Adjective

Some movements feel unnatural, facial expressions are exaggerated, and small details occasionally fall into the uncanny valley or break rules of logical consistency.

— Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
But closer examination reveals that OpenAI’s proof builds its unnatural force in a totally distinct way.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of unnatural

Adjective

At their on-screen meet cute, Apatow hands Bamford $500 cash just to pitch her on her own documentary.

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
The showstopper is a very cute idea where each baker has to make a dessert cart with at least three classic desserts on it.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 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

Infected animals will eventually show signs of abnormal behavior, weight loss and physical debilitation in later stages of the disease.

— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
The abnormal warmth is also delaying the changing of many tree leaves, and could bring health implications for plants across the Midwest and certain organisms living in the Great Lakes.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of abnormal

Adjective

The rash can be more subtle on darker skin tones, but a bumpy or textured feel is often present.

— Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
The last major change was the iPhone X, which dropped the home button almost a decade ago, and even that was a fairly subtle improvement.

— Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of subtle

Adjective

One contains leather-cutting tools, another curved needles and bits of leather showing the different types of stitching that go into the bags.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Those influences show up in the residence’s curved architectural details, natural stone, and custom furnishings.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of curved

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“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devious. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of devious

adjective

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