1
: willing to lie and trick people in order to get what is wanted
a dishonest and devious politician
The company was accused of using devious [=dishonest, deceptive] methods/ways to get the contract.
2
formal
: not straight or direct : having many twists and turns
He took us by a devious route to the center of the city.
Cite this Entry
“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/devious. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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