1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
we always left it to our most devious friends to find out the latest information
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2
as in twisted
marked by a long series of irregular curves
a devious trail through the swampland
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3
as in unnatural
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal
her behavior is devious because of a developmental disorder
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of devious
Hamm joined the cast of Fargo season 5 as Roy Tillman, a devious sheriff and rancher preacher in rural North Dakota.
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Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2024
Under the devious and divisive Project 2025 framework, technology safeguards on AI would be overturned.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2024
What does the everyday activity or product or brand look like through that lens of this wildly imaginative, deliciously devious world that Tim Burton has created in this movie?
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 9 Sep. 2024
For the devious Beetlejuice (Keaton), meanwhile—the most famous character of the franchise—Atwood wanted to give his iconic black and white suit a modern update.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for devious 
Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2024
Under the devious and divisive Project 2025 framework, technology safeguards on AI would be overturned.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2024
What does the everyday activity or product or brand look like through that lens of this wildly imaginative, deliciously devious world that Tim Burton has created in this movie?
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 9 Sep. 2024
For the devious Beetlejuice (Keaton), meanwhile—the most famous character of the franchise—Atwood wanted to give his iconic black and white suit a modern update.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for devious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devious
Adjective
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Streaming on Netflix netflix Agatha All Along Headed up by WandaVision showrunner Jac Schaeffer, Agatha All Along revisits the nosey neighbor and titular cunning witch (played deliciously by Kathryn Hahn) as she’s knocked out of her trance and seeks to regain her powers.Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2024
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Besides being cunning and highly opinionated, Paddy is also rather physically imposing.Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2024
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Lead actor Nathan Meister returns to the role of Henry Oldfield, the sheep-phobic son of a farmer who discovers his twisted older brother has been carrying out dangerous genetic experiences on his livestock, which transform them from docile vegetarians to ruthless, carnivorous killers.Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
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The other two tales — equally twisted takes on Hansel and Gretel and Goldilocks — offer additional cultural insight into the era.EW.com, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The video appeared to have been substantially manipulated, with unnatural facial expressions and a robotic voice, according to a CNN analysis using deepfake detector tools.Michael Conte, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024
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Just make sure to only use mold-free pumpkins that haven’t been treated with paint or other unnatural products.Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2024
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The smallest monkey in the world, these cute critters weigh in at just over 4 ounces.Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
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The Boots and Barkley Wave Scratcher ($15) from Target is not as cute, but my cats love it.Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Making my way to some more winding, enjoyable roads, the pace picked up and the thin-rimmed steering wheel started to soften in my hands, communicating every detail of the road without any of the dullness associated with modern power assist.Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
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Another long and winding answer followed — about affordability, regulations, building her own home, the virtues of shop class — before Gluesenkamp Perez finally expressed concern the proposal could merely end up boosting housing costs.Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The decrease is attributed to the non-recurrence of prior year abnormal backlog deliveries and lower total demand.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024
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Treatments for abnormal ferritin levels may include eating iron-rich foods like lean salmon, leafy green vegetables, and beans.Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
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But even without winning an Editors' Choice award, the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro commands attention with some subtle new features.Brian Westover, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
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Come September this year, the material anchored many fashion crowd ’fits, who opted for the material as subtle accessories and head-to-toe looks.Laura Jackson, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
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The retirement of Chiarello made this race an unusual exercise for South Bay voters who got to choose between two candidates.Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
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It's more accurately seen as a return to the township's Republican norm, after one unusual term with a Democrat in charge.Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Devious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devious. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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