26984 words

devious

5 definitions • 6 examples
1
Devious people or plans and methods are dishonest, often in a complicated way, but often also clever and successful:

Examples:

You have to be devious if you're going to succeed in business.
a devious scheme
2
not direct:

Examples:

He took a rather devious route which avoids the city centre.
3
using indirect ways to get what you want, esp. without showing your real purpose:

Examples:

devious methods
4
Devious also means indirect:

Examples:

They went by a devious route.
5
using indirect ways to get what you want, especially without showing your real purpose:

Examples:

Officials called the company 'devious and underhand'.

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