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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devious
Photo: Jake Giles Netter/HBO How can any single television character be expected to face off against both Megan Mullally and a devious primate at the same time?
—
Brian Grubb, Vulture, 1 May 2025
After Joe secured his fourth immunity win, the two Ks hatched a devious plan of trying to convince Joe that Shauhin was flipping.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 15 May 2025
But the scam is particularly devious since the Trump administration has tried to revoke visas for foreign students while detaining others for views critical of Israel’s war in Gaza.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 14 May 2025
Its characters are well developed and singular, the dialogue is sharp, and the plot is especially devious.
—Lisa Henricksson, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for devious
Brian Grubb, Vulture, 1 May 2025
After Joe secured his fourth immunity win, the two Ks hatched a devious plan of trying to convince Joe that Shauhin was flipping.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 15 May 2025
But the scam is particularly devious since the Trump administration has tried to revoke visas for foreign students while detaining others for views critical of Israel’s war in Gaza.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 14 May 2025
Its characters are well developed and singular, the dialogue is sharp, and the plot is especially devious.
—Lisa Henricksson, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for devious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devious
Adjective
-
Particularly cunning or politically convenient women have infrequently maneuvered into the halls of power, but these female monarchs have served mostly as short detours during times when a male crown prince was either too young or too weak to stand on his own.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2025
-
Anderson stands the original on its head: grooming Liesl as a successor, Zsa-zsa introduces her to a world where cunning and force hold sway.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
Paris Baguette is offering a free sugar mochi doughnut or small twisted doughnut with any purchase on June 6.—
Kate Nalepinski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
-
Watching his victims struggle to stay alive is cinema to this twisted soul and Zephyr will be his next unwitting protagonist.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
The case is one of hundreds in the Medieval Murder Maps database, which uses coroners' rolls to track real cases of unnatural death in 14th-century England—now mapped across cities like London, Oxford, and York.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 June 2025
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With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Plus, a slight slit in the legs adds a cute and playful touch.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
13 June 2025
-
Related Articles Miss Manners: Another mother chided me for group-texting a cute photo.—
Eric Thomas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
During his speech, Kissel made winding references to railroads, attorneys’ fees, scratch-off tickets, casinos, Hartford, car fatalities, troopers, eye-hand coordination, Jack LaLanne, Methuselah, the Bible, and hallucinogenic mushrooms.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
-
One way that’s easy to manifest is through maximalist bedding with punchy colors, big stripes, and winding patterns.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
According to investigators, the medical records showed that an amphetamine urine screen was abnormal and presumptive positive.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2025
-
Two incredible teams making an abnormal number of mistakes in the field and on the basepaths, which can often be the case on such a stage.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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The family secrets were subtle but pervasive, reverberating not just through this nuclear family, but also across generations.—
Susan Walter
June 6,
Literary Hub,
6 June 2025
-
For games that ran mostly fine on the original Switch, the upgrades are more subtle but still impressive.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Hamas issued an unusual warning about another hostage, Matan Zangauker, saying Israel's military had surrounded the area where he's held and that any harm that came to him during a rescue attempt would be Israel's responsibility.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2025
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The head of the Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is endorsing Andrew Cuomo for mayor of New York City, marking an unusual foray into Big Apple politics for the organization, which typically only focuses on issues local to the island.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devious. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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