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Examples of deviance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Out of the Card Catalog Closet Librarians gathered in 1970 to challenge Library of Congress classifications and catalog subject headings that aligned homosexuality with deviance.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
The singer’s life and music were shaped by the political upheaval around him, yet his image has often been softened into a digestible symbol of social deviance to college-age people.
—Lawrence Burney, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2024
Mary & George certainly outpaces The Tudors in varieties of deviance depicted.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Into this apparently stable and monochrome existence, Eng then introduces the gentle subversion and deviance of his more interesting subplots—Lesley’s passion for Sun Yat-sen’s cause, Lesley’s passion for Arthur, Maugham’s passion for Gerald, Robert’s erotic wandering.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for deviance
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deviance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1941, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near deviance
Cite this Entry
“Deviance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deviance. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
deviance
noun
de·vi·ance
ˈdē-vē-ən(t)s
: quality, state, or behavior that differs from what is normal or accepted
Medical Definition
deviance
noun
de·vi·ance
ˈdē-vē-ən(t)s
: deviant quality, state, or behavior
More from Merriam-Webster on deviance
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for deviance
Britannica English: Translation of deviance for Arabic Speakers
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