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Showing results for devious. Search instead for devido ao.
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.

"His actions were depraved and devious and go against the kindness and care our dedicated professionals provide to children each day."

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

Tamma tiptoes “up climbs with body english and devious footwork”; she clings to fingerholds the size of molars; a fall sees her come “cheesegrating” down a slab.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

The latest series of The Traitors is coming to an end after weeks of wild accusations, wilder betrayals and Claudia Winkleman's devious looks-to-camera.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

I prefer to think of it as a solid cargo ship delivering inciting devices, as in the lethal xenomorphs engineered by Michael Fassbender’s devious android David 8.

From Salon • Jul. 4, 2025

Whatsoever, it was like entering a scene which, because of some devious circumstance, I had hitherto watched only from a distance.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

Vocabulary lists containing devious

Esperanza Rising

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

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Born a Crime

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