WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•vi•ous /ˈdiviəs/USA pronunciation
adj.
de•vi•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]the necessary deviousness to be a thief.See -via-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- departing or turning away from the most direct way;
roundabout:a devious course. - not straightforward;
shifty;
dishonest:His devious business methods landed him in trouble.
de•vi•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]the necessary deviousness to be a thief.See -via-.
de•vi•ous
(dē′vē əs),USA pronunciation adj.
de′vi•ous•ly, adv.
de′vi•ous•ness, n.
- departing from the most direct way;
circuitous;
indirect:a devious course. - without definite course;
vagrant:a devious current. - departing from the proper or accepted way;
roundabout:a devious procedure. - not straightforward;
shifty or crooked:a devious scheme to acquire wealth.
- Latin dēvius out-of-the way, erratic, equivalent. to dē- de- + -vius adjective, adjectival derivative of via way; see -ous
- 1590–1600
de′vi•ous•ness, n.
- 1. roundabout, tortuous, involved. 4. subtle, cunning, crafty, artful, sly.