deviously
deviously — adverb
1. Using dishonest or indirect methods to obtain something, often with noticeable c
Using dishonest or indirect methods to obtain something, often with noticeable cleverness and a successful outcome
Kenji had deviously hidden a small camera in his bag to film the meeting.
verb placement: had deviously hidden [past perfect]
The investment firm deviously avoided reporting its profits by using a shell company in Panama.
A rival team deviously spread false rumours about the project just before the deadline.
The senator's assistant was fired for deviously altering official documents to hide the payments.
- slyly
similar level of cleverness but suggests a quieter, more secretive approach
- underhandedly
stronger focus on the secretive and unfair quality, less emphasis on cleverness
- craftily
highlights the skill and cleverness of the deception more than the moral judgment
文法句型
verb + deviously
用法筆記
This adverb almost always describes intentional, planned dishonesty — not a one-off mistake or accidental error. The subject is typically a person or organisation acting with a clear goal.
常見錯誤
deviously — adjective
- deviouslypositive
- more deviouslycomparative
- most deviouslysuperlative
1. behaving in a dishonest, indirect, and often clever way, especially to gain some
behaving in a dishonest, indirect, and often clever way, especially to gain something for yourself
Detective Okafor saw through the suspect's devious lies within the first five minutes.
attributive use: devious + noun (lies, plans, methods)
A devious classmate changed the password on the shared computer just to cause trouble.
The company's devious pricing policy confused regular customers into paying far more than necessary.
The tenants only realised how devious the landlord was after he raised their rent without warning.
- straightforward
directly honest and open in dealing with others
- honest
opposite in both character and behaviour
文法句型
devious + noun
be + devious
用法筆記
Frequently used before nouns like 'plan', 'scheme', 'method', 'tactic', and 'trick'. Describes character traits rather than one-off actions — calling someone 'devious' implies a habit of dishonest behaviour.
常見錯誤
2. taking a longer or less direct route rather than following a straight line or th
taking a longer or less direct route rather than following a straight line or the usual path
The old road follows a devious course through the hills of northern Vietnam.
attributive: devious course / devious path / devious route
We drove home by a devious back-road route to miss the holiday traffic jam.
The river takes a devious path across the valley, winding between farms and villages.
The hiking trail takes a devious route around the lake before climbing the ridge.
- roundabout
more common in everyday speech; describes routes that are not direct
- winding
emphasises curves and turns rather than indirectness as a strategy
- circuitous
more formal; stresses going a long way around to reach a destination
文法句型
devious + noun (route, path, course)
用法筆記
This is a more literal, spatial sense of 'devious'. It appears mainly in descriptive writing about geography, routes, and movement rather than everyday conversation. Distinguish from the CUNNING sense by context: if the subject is a road, river, or route rather than a person, this is the relevant meaning.
3. located far from towns, cities, or other populated areas; difficult to reach bec
located far from towns, cities, or other populated areas; difficult to reach because of distance
The old cabin sat in a devious corner of the forest, three hours from the nearest village.
rare attributive: devious + place noun (corner, spot, place)
Few travellers ever find their way to that devious temple hidden in the mountains of Nepal.
The hermit chose a devious spot in the canyon where few people ever came.
During the war the family hid in a devious village far from the main road.
- remote
the standard modern word; describes places far from civilisation
- secluded
emphasises privacy and being away from other people rather than distance
- out-of-the-way
informal and very common in everyday speech
- central
located in or near a busy area
- accessible
easy to reach
文法句型
devious + noun (place, corner, spot)
用法筆記
This sense is now quite old-fashioned. In modern English it appears mostly in literary or historical writing. For most everyday situations, use 'remote', 'out-of-the-way', or 'secluded' instead.