Definition of DEVIOUS

devious

Adjective Satellite

  • indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading
    • "used devious means to achieve success"
  • characterized by insincerity or deceit; evasive
    • "a devious character"
  • deviating from a straight course
    • "a scenic but devious route"

Adj

  • Cunning or deceiving, not straightforward or honest, not frank.
  • Roundabout, circuitous, deviating from the direct or ordinary route.

Adjective

  • Indirect; not straightforward; cunning or deceptive.

Examples

  • His strategy was devious, lulling me into a false sense of security before unleashing a bingo.

Origin / Etymology

1590s, "out of the common or direct way," from Latin devius (“out of the way, remote, off the main road”), from de via, from de (“off”) (see de-) + via (“way, road”). Compare deviate. Originally in the Latin literal sense; the figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1630s. Related to deviously, deviousness. Figurative senses of the Latin word were "retired, sequestered, wandering in the byways, foolish, inconsistent."

Scrabble Score: 11

devious: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
devious: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
devious: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

devious: valid Words With Friends Word