adj

devious

DEE-vee-uhs

Devious (adj) means Dishonest and cunning; willing to use underhand methods to get what one wants. Example: “He used devious tactics to push his rivals out of the deal.”

adj

Dishonest and cunning; willing to use underhand methods to get what one wants.

"He used devious tactics to push his rivals out of the deal."

"It was a devious plan, but it worked perfectly."

Indirect or roundabout, rather than going straight to the point.

"We took a devious route through back roads to avoid the traffic."

How to use devious

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSneaky and underhand — or, in its older sense, simply roundabout rather than direct.

Common mistake

Modern use is almost always negative (dishonest); the neutral "roundabout route" sense is now rare and slightly literary.

Common pairings

devious plan devious scheme devious means

Word forms

more devious comparative, most devious superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “devious” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He used _____ tactics to push his rivals out of the deal.

Etymology

From Latin dēvius, "out of the way, off the main road," from de via, "off the road." The figurative sense of "deceitful" only developed in English in the 1600s.

Origin: Latin · First attested 1600

Class of 1600 devious joined the language around 1600.

abigail accommodation Amish Baroque beau

See the full Class of 1600 →

Rhymes for devious

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

See all rhymes for devious →

Frequently asked questions

What does “devious” mean?

The word “devious” means dishonest and cunning; willing to use underhand methods to get what one wants. In plain terms, sneaky and underhand — or, in its older sense, simply roundabout rather than direct.

How do you pronounce “devious”?

“Devious” is pronounced DEE-vee-uhs (/ˈdiː.vi.əs/ in IPA).

How do you use “devious” in a sentence?

Here is “devious” used in a sentence: “He used devious tactics to push his rivals out of the deal.”

What part of speech is “devious”?

“Devious” is an adjective.

Where does the word “devious” come from?

The word “devious” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Latin. From Latin dēvius, "out of the way, off the main road," from de via, "off the road." The figurative sense of "deceitful" only developed in English in the 1600s.

How many meanings does “devious” have?

“Devious” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dishonest and cunning; willing to use underhand methods to get what one wants.