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
The exact details of Greg’s devious plot have been debated on social media forums ever since Tanya’s onscreen death, but season 3 of The White Lotus will likely conclude the storyline.
—
Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Davis' growing bond with Quinn is threatened by his ex-wife, who has a devious plan to take down Staten and Cap.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
Wearing a beige leotard and white tutu, with her silky black hair secured in a tight bun, Ito is disarmingly devious in her efforts to seduce Prince Siegfried, played by dancer Lucas Ataide.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
In the most recent episode, the clans form a temporary détente at the funeral of Tommy Stevenson (Felix Edwards), with Conrad’s devious wife Maeve (Helen Mirren) scheming to draw blood behind his back.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devious
Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Davis' growing bond with Quinn is threatened by his ex-wife, who has a devious plan to take down Staten and Cap.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
Wearing a beige leotard and white tutu, with her silky black hair secured in a tight bun, Ito is disarmingly devious in her efforts to seduce Prince Siegfried, played by dancer Lucas Ataide.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
In the most recent episode, the clans form a temporary détente at the funeral of Tommy Stevenson (Felix Edwards), with Conrad’s devious wife Maeve (Helen Mirren) scheming to draw blood behind his back.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devious
Adjective
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McLaren’s Piastri began in pole position and initially held off Verstappen before the Dutchman displayed all the brilliance, cunning and bravery that has propelled him to four world championships, holding off the brakes as long as possible and sliding around the outside on the first turn.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
18 May 2025
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Unfortunately, Porsha isn’t cunning enough for this to work.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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An attempt to streamline that story line would render Elden Ring not unlike Game of Thrones: a dark, twisted fantasy narrative where death rules over all.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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Season 8 will be the last for the kids and the hormone monsters and their twisted coming-of-age tale.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
18 May 2025
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For her, the idea of being surrounded by people, especially while grieving, felt overwhelming and unnatural.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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She has been married twice, marrying director Chris Calkins in 2009. 08 of 09 Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd Woody Harrelson's Woody Boyd joined Cheers in season 4 as a not-so-bright but very cute bartender.—
Kate Hogan,
People.com,
20 May 2025
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There are some funny bits including Kenan Thompson’s moment and joking about Sherman getting fired, but the most apt word to describe this monologue is cute.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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Newton’s path to jewelry making involved a winding international road.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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After the afternoon prayers, the thunderstorm fading into the distance, a group of girls takes a winding cobblestone path through a thin area of woods and approaches a greenhouse.—
Lindsey McGinnis,
Christian Science Monitor,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Storm surge is defined by the National Hurricane Center as an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm.—
Mallory Nicholls,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2025
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One or more other symptoms like abnormal eye movements (nystagmus), vomiting, paleness, or fearfulness are also present.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Arthritis in your fingers often starts with subtle changes.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
25 May 2025
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The navy, white, and subtle red palette nods to the seaside and seamlessly blends into Printemps' signature French elegance.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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But the boys also casually tell stories about the deprivations of their previous life, a reminder of how unusual their childhoods have been by American standards.—
Sacha Pfeiffer,
NPR,
27 May 2025
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Listen to this article The Rent Guidelines Board lowered the range of potential rent increases for some 2 million New Yorkers in an unusual redo vote Tuesday — a move that comes as the issue of freezing rents has taken center stage in the contentious mayoral race.—
Téa Kvetenadze,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devious. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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