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
Harriet Walter has a nice scene as the Prime Minister hatching her own devious political plan.
—
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
As the series goes on, Jax morphs from a generally good-hearted guy into a violent, devious antihero.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
Still, self-censorship is the most devious concocter of self-deceit.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Another season of The Traitors is here — which means a new group of devious celebrities has been chosen to wreak havoc in the castle.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devious
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
As the series goes on, Jax morphs from a generally good-hearted guy into a violent, devious antihero.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
Still, self-censorship is the most devious concocter of self-deceit.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Another season of The Traitors is here — which means a new group of devious celebrities has been chosen to wreak havoc in the castle.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devious
Adjective
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In state media comedy shows, jokes about Putin are told from time to time, but they are used to bolster his image as a powerful, cunning leader, and hold up Russia as a great country.—
Neringa Klumbytė,
The Conversation,
4 Mar. 2026
-
These ambitious, cunning, and often amoral Cold War operatives were usually marginal or even inconsequential figures at home.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The sequel throws the bride, Grace, played with feral ferocity by Samara Weaving into another, even more twisted game.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
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Early, as the family’s dented nepo baby, is a peculiar fount of profane insight, twisted but touchingly damaged.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What people fail to realize, Harding said, is that the office is an investigative body that plays a role in uncovering the cause of unnatural deaths and also protecting the public.—
Shannon Tyler
March 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
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The film is fiercely feminist, a little punk, more than a bit surreal, leaning much heavier on absurdist romance than horror and, ultimately, an unnatural force of nature.—
Mark Meszoros,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Though when he’s finally seen in full evil flight, the actor is arguably allowed to wax a little too cute about it.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
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Place them in a cute Weck jar and have a little pickle fork handy.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Hosch, 67, went for a hike on part of the Appalachian Trail, a winding path that extends almost 2,200 miles through 14 states.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
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And through the dark, winding path of grief came a quaint, bright pink house nestled between a local home goods store and a vintage clothing shop on Parkville’s historic Main Street — creating a stark contrast from the deep sorrow Kincaid and her husband, Michael, felt inside.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In-lab sleep tests can identify the cause of abnormal behaviors that happen while someone is sleeping like recurrent nightmares, sleepwalking and more.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
10 Mar. 2026
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Pollen allergies can also be a common culprit of a abnormal nasal cycle.—
Adam Taylor,
CNN Money,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Among California’s most upscale neighborhoods, a subtle reshuffling has taken place in recent decades, with the highest home values migrating from Northern California to Southern California.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Key Takeaways The symptoms of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM)—a disease of the heart muscle—are often subtle and can mimic those of other heart conditions, especially in the early stages.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Our weeklong tester, a 2026 Escalade IQL Sport wrapped in Black Cherry Tint coat had a slew of standard features such as 22-inch wheels, Super Cruise autonomous driving, 55-inch curved display screen, heads up display, panoramic sunroof and illuminated grille to name a few.—
Marc D Grasso,
Hartford Courant,
14 Mar. 2026
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The curved leg promotes airflow and ease, which is especially welcome on long travel days.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devious. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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