Definition

Adverb: 1. In a dishonest, deceptive, or underhanded way: Acting with a deliberate intention to mislead, trick, or achieve a goal through indirect and cunning means. 2. In a winding, roundabout, or indirect manner: Moving or proceeding not in a straight or direct line or course.

Usage and Examples

• Adverb (Dishonest/Deceptive):
  • The spy operated deviously to obtain the secret plans without raising suspicion.
  • She realized her partner had been acting deviously to hide the financial losses.
• Adverb (Indirect/Winding):
  • The river flows deviously through the canyon, creating many hidden bends. (This usage is less common than the first.)

Advanced Usage

• "To plot deviously": To plan or scheme in a cunning and deceitful way.
  • The antagonists plotted deviously to overthrow the kingdom.
• "To act deviously": To behave in a manner characterized by trickery and a lack of straightforwardness.
  • Politicians who act deviously often lose the public's trust.

Variants and Related Words

• Devious (Adjective): Describing someone or something that is dishonest, cunning, or not direct.
  • He had a devious plan to win the competition.
  • We took a devious route to avoid the traffic.
• Deviousness (Noun): The quality of being devious.
  • The deviousness of his scheme was eventually uncovered.

Synonyms

• Dishonestly: In a manner lacking honesty or integrity.
• Deceitfully: In a way that involves deception or trickery.
• Cunningly: In a clever but often dishonest way, showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit.
• Underhandedly: In a secret and dishonest way.

Antonyms

• Honestly: In a truthful, fair, and sincere manner.
• Straightforwardly: In a direct and honest way, without ambiguity.
• Candidly: In an open, honest, and straightforward manner.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To get something by behaving deviously: To obtain something through dishonest or underhanded actions.
  • He got the promotion by behaving deviously, not through merit.
• A devious mind: A way of thinking that is skilled at creating clever but dishonest plans.
  • It takes a devious mind to conceive of such an elaborate fraud.

Adverb

1. in a devious manner
   • he got the promotion by behaving deviously