devious

adjective

Cunning or deceiving, not straightforward or honest, not frank.

(literal, archaic) Roundabout, circuitous, deviating from the direct or ordinary route.

Roots

Synonyms for devious

shiftyadj cunningadj sneakyadj guilefuladj wilyadj deceitfuladj slyadj underhandedadj schemingadj craftyadj duplicitousadj treacherousadj insidiousadj dishonestadj artfuladj unscrupulousadj

Synonyms & related words for devious

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of devious — including shifty, cunning, sneaky, guileful, wily, deceitful. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to devious

Explore words related to devious — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include deviously, conniving, weaselly, tricksy, blackguardly, perfidious, nefarious, underhandedness. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for devious

Common synonyms for devious include shifty, cunning, sneaky, guileful, wily, deceitful, sly, underhanded — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does devious come from?

The word devious breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root via-, from Latin via (“way, road”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.