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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more devious
- Superlative
- most devious
Fill the gap
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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.
Class of 1600
devious joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for devious
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.
