deviance

noun

Definition of deviancenext
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
  1. divergence
  2. discrepancy
  3. disparity
  4. dissimilarity
  5. diversity
  6. contrast
  7. difference
  8. variation
Noun
  • The divergence has traders worried that, if the few stocks driving the gains start to falter, the broader market will be in trouble.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The study found a similar divergence in opinions among working-class Latino voters.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of divergence
Noun
  • The discrepancies between the two friends’ stories are striking.
    — S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The discrepancy, per the report, was projected to worsen in the 2026-2027 school year.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of discrepancy
Noun
  • Experts said a number of factors contribute to the disparities within majors.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Dougan also had documented and reported disparities in leadership pay, the suit says.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 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
  • These genomes should reflect the full sequence of both chromosome copies and the diversity of the global population, rather than relying on one person or one ancestral group as a universal standard.
    — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The decrease in gut bacteria diversity was tied to expansions in populations of certain bad actors, such as the bacteria Enterococcus faecium.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of diversity
Noun
  • Personal autonomous vehicles, by contrast, are a natural extension of the company’s 118 years of expertise in building vehicles for individual customers.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The grim scene was a stark contrast to the flamboyant public life the businessman had cultivated.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of contrast
Noun
  • On a longer flight, having some additional neck support can make a significant difference.
    — Julie Rousseau, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The big difference is space, with the standard room having a footprint of 350 square feet, whereas the suite has an additional 500 square feet to spread out.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of difference
Noun
  • This bag is very optimized and has the potential to have many variations.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • As a result, there are too many schools with too much variation in the quality of administration and too many differing standards for teachers and students.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of variation

Browse Nearby Words

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deviance
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Cite this Entry

“Deviance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviance. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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