deviousness
2
7.0
- noun
- /ˈdiːviəsnəs/
:
astucia
- The detective was impressed by the deviousness of the scheme, which was cleverly disguised as a legitimate business.
Examples
-
With a deviousness that had fooled no one but Audrey, Carl Coopersmith had been supporting another woman in Denver for the past fifteen years.
Fiction book (1993) -
Never underestimate the deviousness of a malcontented spouse.
-
I find that sort of deviousness too much trouble.
Fiction book (1998) -
This was not out of deviousness, for he was not by nature a liar.
Fiction book (1994) -
He didn't have any kind of deviousness in him.
-
They were both accused of deviousness and occasional dishonesty.
Academic text (1993) -
His deviousness in achieving his goals led to a lot of mistrust among his colleagues.
-
Everyone was shocked by the deviousness she displayed to manipulate the situation to her advantage.
Synonyms
66
4.6
Dishonest action meant to trick someone
46
3.2
Actions like lying, cheating, or stealing
28
4.5
The ability to get what you want by tricking people
27
4.9
To use dishonest ways to cheat people
12
8.1
Dishonest behavior that hides true intentions to trick someone
11
7.8
Clever but dishonest way of acting that tricks people
8
9.3
Tricks people use to deceive others to get money or advantage
8
8.6
Secret or dishonest actions that try to cheat people
3
8.8
A way of hiding the truth by pretending to be less involved
2
6.5
Trying to make other people believe something that is not true
1
6.0
Doing things quietly to trick people without them noticing
1
9.8
Secret dishonest actions to get an unfair advantage
1
8.7
Dishonest behaviour that aims to get money or other unfair personal gain
1
7.1
Dishonest or sneaky behaviour to get what you want
1
6.2
Having secret plans to get what you want in a dishonest way
1
6.9
Dishonest behavior by a person or group
1
7.1
Dishonest behavior of pretending one thing but doing another
1
7.2
A quality that makes something seem true when it is false
1
6.2
A quality of being clever and secretly using tricks to get what you want
1
6.2
A habit of being dishonest and breaking rules to get money or power
Being clever at getting what you want by tricking others
A habit of ignoring right and wrong and being dishonest to get what you want
Behavior that hides the truth to mislead people
A clever and dishonest way of tricking people
Antonyms
How Devious
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Deviousness comes from the parts de- meaning 'away' and via meaning 'way' or 'road'. So, deviousness is when someone goes away from the straight 'way' and uses indirect or dishonest methods to get what they want.