Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

devious

[dee-vee-uhs] / ˈdi vi əs /
ADJECTIVE
dishonest, crafty
Synonyms
STRONGEST
calculating deceitful duplicitous fraudulent insidious insincere shrewd sly sneaky underhanded wily
WEAK
artful crooked double-dealing errant erring evasive faking one out fishy foxy guileful indirect not straightforward oblique obliquitous playing games playing politics put on roundabout scheming shady shifty sneaking surreptitious treacherous tricky
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fair forthright frank honest naive open sincere
WEAK
artless direct straight straightforward trustworthy truthful
ADJECTIVE
crooked; indirect
Synonyms
STRONGEST
circuitous misleading
WEAK
ambiguous bending confounding confusing curving detouring deviating digressing digressory diverting errant erratic excursive flexuous obscure out-of-the-way rambling remote removed roundabout serpentine straying tortuous twisting wandering
Antonyms
WEAK
artless direct frank honest open straight straightforward trustworthy truthful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Devious betrayals, shock twists and mortifying fails, this season of The Traitors UK has had it all.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2025

—Lucci is an actress who currently stars on Devious Maids, on Lifetime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2016

It's partly what prompted her to turn down a role on Lifetime's "Devious Maids."

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2015

Recent hits such as Jane the Virgin and Devious Maids show that TV audiences want to see Latino content.

From Time • Feb. 22, 2015

Devious, and in a manner he had never encountered before.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

Vocabulary lists containing devious

Esperanza Rising

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"The Lady, or the Tiger?" by Frank R. Stockton

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Born a Crime

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!