Devious: meaning, definitions and examples
🦹
devious
[ ˈdiːviəs ]
behavior
Showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve goals; deceitful.
Synonyms
crafty, cunning, scheming, sly
Examples of usage
- He had a devious plan to cheat his way to the top.
- She was known for her devious ways of manipulating others.
route
Indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; not straightforward.
Synonyms
circuitous, indirect, roundabout, winding
Examples of usage
- The devious path through the forest took longer but avoided the guards.
- He took a devious route to avoid traffic.
Translations
Translations of the word "devious" in other languages:
🇵🇹 ardiloso
- desonesto
- astuto
🇮🇳 धूर्त
- कपटी
- चालाक
🇩🇪 hinterhältig
- verschlagen
- listig
🇮🇩 licik
- curang
- licin
🇺🇦 підступний
- хитрий
- нечесний
🇵🇱 podstępny
- przebiegły
- nieuczciwy
🇯🇵 ずるい
- 狡猾な
- 悪賢い
🇫🇷 sournois
- fourbe
- rusé
🇪🇸 engañoso
- astuto
- taimado
🇹🇷 sinsi
- kurnaz
- hilekar
🇰🇷 교활한
- 음흉한
- 교묘한
🇸🇦 ماكر
- خبيث
- مخادع
🇨🇿 záludný
- lstivý
- nepoctivý
🇸🇰 zákerný
- prefíkaný
- nečestný
🇨🇳 狡猾的
- 阴险的
- 诡计多端的
🇸🇮 zahrbten
- prebrisan
- nepošten
🇮🇸 undirförull
- svikull
- klókur
🇰🇿 айлакер
- қулық
- қастық
🇬🇪 ეშმაკური
- მზაკვრული
- ცბიერი
🇦🇿 hiyləgər
- kələkbaz
- məkrli
🇲🇽 engañoso
- astuto
- taimado
Word origin
The word 'devious' originated from the Latin word 'devius', which meant 'out of the way' or 'remote'. Over time, it evolved to encompass the idea of indirectness or deceitful behavior. The term has been used in English since the late 16th century to describe someone or something that strays from the accepted path or acts in a cunning manner.
See also: deviously.