1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
we always left it to our most devious friends to find out the latest information
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in twisted
marked by a long series of irregular curves
a devious trail through the swampland
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unnatural
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal
her behavior is devious because of a developmental disorder
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devious
Loki Loki is the Norse god of mischief and he’s known as a trickster—sometimes for good, sometimes a bit more devious.
—
Kara Nesvig, Parents, 11 Apr. 2026
David Pierce, Hayden Field, and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy discuss all the ways Amazon’s team had to catch up to products like Siri, the devious and clever tests the team ran to see how people would use the device, and why Bezos decided to launch the Echo with no fanfare at all.
—David Pierce, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2026
The show portrays devious, cocaine-huffing young bankers climbing the ranks of global finance, and Yasmin—or Yas, for short—has cut the least noble path of all.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Or, there are a few things audiences shouldn’t even think about during one, let alone find the time to worry about — especially not if our seemingly devious criminals aren’t worrying about them, either.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devious
Kara Nesvig, Parents, 11 Apr. 2026
David Pierce, Hayden Field, and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy discuss all the ways Amazon’s team had to catch up to products like Siri, the devious and clever tests the team ran to see how people would use the device, and why Bezos decided to launch the Echo with no fanfare at all.
—David Pierce, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2026
The show portrays devious, cocaine-huffing young bankers climbing the ranks of global finance, and Yasmin—or Yas, for short—has cut the least noble path of all.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Or, there are a few things audiences shouldn’t even think about during one, let alone find the time to worry about — especially not if our seemingly devious criminals aren’t worrying about them, either.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devious
Adjective
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There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
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As Michael moves into solo stardom and makes cunning business moves, the film captures how his seemingly naive idealism was also a form of ambition.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Aquazzura pair, the Twist 95, featured an open toe, a backless slide shape and two twisted straps across the front of the foot.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
16 May 2026
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As polished-glam and old-Hollywood as the references were, there were moments that also felt sleazy and fun in the way that Hollywood in 2007 did, when getting photographed pouring out of a car on the way into the club was a rite of passage and full of its own twisted promise.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Over the course of Obsession's 108-minute runtime, Nikki transforms into an self-destructive, possessive, and dangerously violent shadow of her former self as Bear's spell forces her to fixate solely on her unnatural devotion to him—no matter the cost.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
15 May 2026
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As real trees begin to bloom outside, photographer Widline Cadet picks through two playfully oversized bouquets of positively unnatural plastic flowers.—
Elly Fishman,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Walter, who had left the Progressive Labor Party, didn’t preach Marxism to his son, but Riley embraced a radical-left viewpoint on his own, after tagging along with some cute older girls who were participating in a cannery workers’ strike.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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He's described as being cute, with chin-length dark hair, dimples and a diamond stud in one ear.—
Jennifer McClellan,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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Soneva Jani stretches almost four miles along a stunning lagoon, with a small, lush island connecting two winding jetties, each snaking through the turquoise waters and leading to a collection of unique overwater villas.—
William Curtis,
Travel + Leisure,
6 May 2026
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Even the entrance is enveloping—a winding, sheltered, dark wooden path that smells like intense relaxation and essential oils.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In recent decades, drugs that target these proteins on the surface of tumor cells have been able to slow abnormal growth and control breast, lung, pancreas, and colon cancers involving these genes.—
Alice Park,
Time,
12 May 2026
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Moments later, someone ran by with an AED defibrillator—the portable device helps detect an abnormal heartbeat and can deliver an electrical shock during sudden cardiac arrest.—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Is there a subtle way to say something?—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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Many viewers interpreted the scene as a subtle reference to Sweeney's political beliefs after BuzzFeed reported in August that Sweeney was registered as a Republican in Florida.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Jimmy Fairly’s exaggerated proportions and curved shield shapes feel perfectly aligned with that energy.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
16 May 2026
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With its curved ceiling, the 120-seat auditorium serves not just as a film and laser show venue but also as a planetarium.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devious. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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