Devious Word Meaning

late 16th century: from Latin devius (from de- ‘away from’ + via ‘way’) + -ous. The original sense was ‘remote’; the later sense ‘departing from the direct route’ gave rise to the figurative sense ‘deviating from the straight way’ and hence ‘skilled in underhand tactics’

showing a skilful use of underhand tactics to achieve goals

showing skilful use of underhand tactics

• he's as devious as a politician needs to be
• they have devious ways of making money

(of a route or journey) longer and less direct than the most straightforward way

longer and less direct than most straightforward way

• they arrived at the town by a devious route