devious Meaning & Definition
What Does Devious Mean?
As an adjective, devious means deviating from a right, accepted, or common course. It can also mean not straightforward.
Devious at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈdē-vē-əs/ |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Synonyms | oblique, circuitous and shifty |
| Antonyms | artless, guileless and ingenuous |
| Comparative / superlative | more devious, most devious |
| Adverb | deviously |
| First known use | 1599 |
Devious Definition (Adjective)
- deviating from a right, accepted, or common course
devious conduct
- not straightforward : cunning
a devious politician
- deceptive
a devious trick / a devious plot
- wandering, roundabout
a devious path
- moving without a fixed course : errant
devious breezes
- out-of-the-way, remote
upon devious coasts
Synonyms of Devious
Antonyms of Devious
Devious in a Sentence
devious conduct
a devious politician
a devious trick
a devious plot
a devious path
devious breezes
upon devious coasts
we always left it to our most devious friends to find out the latest information
a devious trail through the swampland
her behavior is devious because of a developmental disorder
a devious trick / a devious plot
Word Forms & Grammar
de·vi·ous·ly adverb
de·vi·ous·ness noun
devious
deviously
deviousness
deviousnesses
devious (comparative more devious, superlative most devious)
Words That Rhyme With Devious
Origin of Devious
Origin 1: Latin devius, from de from + via way de-, way
Origin 2: 1590s, "out of the common or direct way," from Latin devius (“out of the way, remote, off the main road”), from de via, from de (“off”) (see de-) + via (“way, road”). Compare deviate. Originally in the Latin literal sense; the figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1630s. Related to deviously, deviousness. Figurative senses of the Latin word were "retired, sequestered, wandering in the byways, foolish, inconsistent."
First Known Use
1599
Pronouncing Devious
Devious is pronounced /ˈdē-vē-əs/ and has 3 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (dē).
Common Questions About Devious
What part of speech is devious?
Devious is an adjective.
What is another word for devious?
You can replace devious with words such as oblique, circuitous and shifty. See the full list of devious synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of devious?
Antonyms of devious include artless, guileless, ingenuous and innocent.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of devious?
The comparative form is more devious and the superlative form is most devious.