DEVIANCE Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

deviance

noun

Definition of deviance

as in divergence

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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

That divergence becomes stark as Japan's Nikkei 225 and Taiwan's Taiex entered bear territory, while South Korea's Kospi deepened its bear market and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite entered into correction territory overnight.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
There will be a natural divergence, too, on some high-profile issues.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of divergence

Noun

For Börchers and senior review author Christoffer Clemmensen, a research group leader at the University of Copenhagen, that discrepancy is particularly revealing.

— Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
After the war, when more detailed information was gathered on those buried here, cemetery caretakers found discrepancies between military and actual birth records.

— Rob Newell, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of discrepancy

Noun

Still, data from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research and the To&Through Project show how the disparities extend beyond high school and into college.

— Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
Structured as a six-part anthology, Facing The Numbers explores these disparities through the real-life stories of First Nations people using a bold mix of dance, poetry, and spoken word.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Nov. 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

At Unity, which has been around since 1926, diversity and acceptance are a part of the group’s core values.

— Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2026
Both Robbie and Blancas also see diversity playing an important part in strengthening the Aquascape community.

— John W. Bateman, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of diversity

Noun

Rooms Each of the three floors’ hallways is saturated in a single primary color (red, blue, or green) in sharp contrast to the guest rooms, which are bathed in white from top to bottom.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026
In contrast to her monochrome ensemble underneath, Watson’s knee-length jacket boasted colorful floral embroidery in shades of blue, green, yellow, and red.

— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of contrast

Noun

That difference makes city cars, delivery vehicles and stationary storage more promising applications than long-range EVs.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
But the men have deep differences over many issues that will be difficult to bridge.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of difference

Noun

Today a garlicky variation features on Huyke’s Sanguiving table.

— Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Nov. 2026
Each car insurance company uses its own pricing models to assess risk, and those differences can translate into substantial variations in what you're quoted for identical coverage.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of variation

Browse Nearby Words

develops

deviance

deviances

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Deviance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviance. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of deviance

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boilerplate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes