DEVIANCE Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

deviance

noun

Definition of deviance

as in divergence

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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 deviance Yet during the axman’s reign in the early 1900s, a Black woman’s confession to murder was interpreted through the lens of religious deviance rather than diversity. — Lauren Nicole Henley, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2026 One real danger here is the normalization of deviance — when small ethical compromises become routine, paving the way for larger issues down the line. — Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025 Many immigrant communities either ignore mental health challenges or see symptoms as evidence of spiritual deviance. — Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025 Jeffrey’s confrontation of the deeply disturbing underbelly of his seemingly quintessential hometown, with its idyllic exterior glorifying the American Dream, mirrors the tension between repression and indulgence, normalcy and deviance. — Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deviance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviance

Noun

More capacity in a misaligned organization accelerates divergence, and aligned sponsors watching an overloaded team still get a stall.

— Leslie Ellis, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Both the moving average convergence divergence and relative strength index, known respectively as MACD and RSI, continue to trend higher.

— Jay Woods, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of divergence

Noun

Colorado’s athletics program uncovered financial discrepancies during an internal audit of its 2025 records, and alerted police soon after.

— Matt Moret, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Showing there were no hard feelings over the discrepancy on the Billboard charts, Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas would invite Charli xcx out to the stage to perform with the band on Saturday.

— Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of discrepancy

Noun

Judges are free to ignore sentencing guidelines, which are intended to reduce disparities in punishments levied for the same crimes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Your wife must love that poem and the acknowledgment of the disparity between how men are just, like, acknowledged and applauded for just being a father out in public with their kids and the way women are just expected to be that way.

— Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of disparity

Noun

In fact, the German scholar Winfried Fluck, in a study of the Americanization of global culture, credited Americans’ dissimilarities with the dominance of its popular culture.

— Lily Rothman, Time, 23 Apr. 2026
Their results support the hypothesis that limiting trait similarity allows the establishment of non-native parakeets at the local scale by reducing competition with native species due to trait dissimilarity.

— GrrlScientist, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2026

Definition of dissimilarity

Noun

The huge diversity in artistic opportunity is clearly visible in the finalists for 2026’s Ocean Photographer of the Year award.

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
In the fall of 2025, the ranking and review site released its 2026 list of the Best Schools in America, evaluating schools based on academics, diversity, teachers and college preparation.

— Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of diversity

Noun

By contrast, collectivist societies focus more on social harmony and prioritise the group over individual goals, with decisions made based on what is best for the wider community.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
By contrast, the defense will point to the parts of the book that are provably false, in an attempt to discredit it, explained David Roger, the former Clark County, Nevada, district attorney.

— Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of contrast

Noun

The two started off as enemies as Judy joined the Zootopia Police Department, but then put aside their differences to solve a mystery in the animal city.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
There is a difference in the cases of Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, in that the former has been far more involved in some monumental moments.

— Kaya Kaynak, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of difference

Noun

The physical device also needed to be custom fit because of natural variation in mouth shape and size, and the hardware needed to be thin and flexible, yet durable.

— Greg Uyeno, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026
Coming-of-age films with variations of these characters and dynamics come around pretty often; rather more unusual are those written and played with this degree of care and compassion.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of variation

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“Deviance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviance. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of deviance

noun

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