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

Following an extended advance, the S & P 500 began testing its rising 50-day moving average as negative RSI divergences developed.

— Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
The divergence shows how much revenue growth now depends on earning more from each passenger rather than carrying more of them.

— Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of divergence

Noun

Paulding County Sheriff's Office Echols also highlighted significant physical discrepancies regarding the location and movement of the firearm.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Turning Factory Integration into Business Value Identification errors, incorrect RFID encoding, shipment discrepancies and last-minute changes can create rework, delays and retailer chargebacks.

— SJ Studio, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of discrepancy

Noun

Route comparisons presented at the forum showed stark price disparities, including American’s $919 nonstop fare between CLT and Philadelphia versus $254 on Frontier, and a $1,041 fare from CLT to Miami on American versus $126 on Frontier.

— Chase Jordan October 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
Management wants a cap and a floor that would cut down disparity in payrolls along with restricting a player to at most 15% of his team's payroll.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 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

By contrast, Alzheimer’s disease typically is associated with memory and language loss, and is more associated with apathy and depression than with anxiety.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
In stark contrast to the organic, pictorial design of the Nativity Façade on the opposite side of the basilica, which depicts the birth of Jesus, Gaudí employed skeletal forms to evoke human suffering and Christ’s final days.

— Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of contrast

Noun

Gallup found no difference in scam victimization rates by age, and experienced professionals have been duped as well.

— Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
The old boy was perfectly reasonable, explaining the difference between federal reimbursement and state reimbursement, and the speed that agencies move on the different levels.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of difference

Noun

Beyond being universally flattering and easy to maintain, there are many variations to choose from.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
In one instance, a simple game of catch later evolved into variations that included multiple objects, timing rules, and even juggling.

— Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of variation

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“Deviance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviance. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deviance

noun

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