deviant

9 synonyms and 1 antonym for deviant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way society disapproves of.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

aberrant deviate nonconformist irregularity outlier perve pervert degenerate perv

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way society disapproves of.

“The study looked at deviant behaviour among teenagers.”

aberrant deviate nonconformist irregularity outlier

Opposites

regular

2. noun

A person whose behaviour clearly breaks accepted social norms.

“The tabloid labelled him a deviant after the scandal broke.”

perve pervert deviate degenerate perv

How to use deviant

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

deviant behaviour sexual deviant social deviant

Often used clinically or judgmentally rather than neutrally — it usually carries a negative charge.

Etymology

From Latin dēviāns, "straying" or "turning off the road" — literally de- ("away") + via ("way, road").

Full origin of deviant →

Frequently asked questions

What does “deviant” mean?

The word “deviant” means different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way society disapproves of. In plain terms, someone or something that strays noticeably from what is considered normal.

How do you pronounce “deviant”?

“Deviant” is pronounced DEE-vee-uhnt (/ˈdiː.vi.ənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “deviant” in a sentence?

Here is “deviant” used in a sentence: “The study looked at deviant behaviour among teenagers.”

What is another word for “deviant”?

Words with a similar meaning to “deviant” include nonconformist, irregularity and outlier.

What part of speech is “deviant”?

Depending on how it is used, “deviant” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “deviant” come from?

The word “deviant” comes from Latin. From Latin dēviāns, "straying" or "turning off the road" — literally de- ("away") + via ("way, road").

How many meanings does “deviant” have?

“Deviant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way society disapproves of.

People also searched

regular degenerate pervert deviate outlier nonconformist aberrant perv irregularity

Nearby words

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