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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devious
Following a confrontational luncheon, the Baroness, who by now has been revealed to be a devious conwoman, attempts to drive a rift between the Wittmers and the Ritters by convincing her lovers, Rudy and Robert, to trick Heinz into shooting Dore's beloved donkey.
—
EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
In zoos, the architecture of captivity arguably finds its most devious achievement, because the designers want to hide the cages and accommodate masses of spectators.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
This comedic musical tale about ambition, love, family and devious murder plots will have playgoers gasping with laughter and reveling in its lively, imaginative score, a news release stated.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
Mao Zedong and his colleagues increasingly resented Soviet assumptions of superiority and leadership of the world communist movement, while Stalin’s successor Nikita Khrushchev found the Chinese devious and untrustworthy—contributing to the very public and bitter Sino-Soviet split after 1962.
—Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for devious
EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
In zoos, the architecture of captivity arguably finds its most devious achievement, because the designers want to hide the cages and accommodate masses of spectators.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
This comedic musical tale about ambition, love, family and devious murder plots will have playgoers gasping with laughter and reveling in its lively, imaginative score, a news release stated.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
Mao Zedong and his colleagues increasingly resented Soviet assumptions of superiority and leadership of the world communist movement, while Stalin’s successor Nikita Khrushchev found the Chinese devious and untrustworthy—contributing to the very public and bitter Sino-Soviet split after 1962.
—Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for devious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devious
Adjective
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Bening will costar on the series as Beulah Jackson, who's described as the powerful, cunning, and charming head of a major ranch in Texas.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
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Joan Silber is a contemporary genius at creating artful stories of a multitude of characters who ricochet in cunning ways, crossing generations and continents.—
Jane Ciabattari
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a twisted wit to the setup here, as Kolstad takes real trends in American life — economic stagnation, rising tribalism, gun fetishism — and follows them to their corrupt, violent end points.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
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When those two go rogue, Ulysses enlists Gunderson’s misunderstood adult child, Alex (Jess McLeod), who’s like the wide-eyed kid to Odenkirk’s Shane, in this movie’s twisted-Western logic.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In its world premiere, SECOND NATURE challenges the notion that queerness is unnatural, by turning to nature itself — and the science that dismantles the myth of the gender binary.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
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Stories abound in folklore of the unnatural taking the place of the natural.—
Adam Verner
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ofeefan Long-Sleeve A-Line Ribbed-Knit Mini Dress This mini sweater dress would look cute with a cropped leather jacket and coordinating knee-high boots.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Ouligay Period Bag My teen and her friends always make sure to keep their period stashes organized in one cute pouch like this black one.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The long and winding road of The Beatles leads to a trifecta of new anniversary artifacts.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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On Beatles night at Citi Field, the Mets took a long and winding road to defeat.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark followed 1,200 patients at high risk for ventricular arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) who already had tiny implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in their chests.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Unlike traditional software tools that cannot detect unusual activity if legitimate login credentials are used, hardware-level security can detect unusual access patterns—like mass file transfers or abnormal read/write activity—at the physical layer.—
Camellia Chan,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This planet is electric, unpredictable and genius with its approach, but its transits are anything but subtle.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
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Even subtle light or noise can disrupt sleep cycles, preventing you from reaching the deeper, most restorative stages of sleep necessary for physical and mental recovery.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The curved design trend has delivered an abundance of playful pieces to homes over the past couple of years.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
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The video of serene waves that swished behind the curved stage at the start of Dua Lipa’s concert slowly intensified until the tide became a surge, an appropriate analogy for the pop superstar’s arrival in the US for the first time in more than three years.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devious. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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