Cunning
Cunning adjective - Clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means.
Usage example: a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices
Devious is a synonym for cunning in crafty topic. In some cases you can use "Devious" instead an adjective "Cunning", when it comes to topics like dishonest, ingenious, lying. popular alternative
Nearby Word: cunningly
Devious
Devious adjective - Clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means.
Usage example: we always left it to our most devious friends to find out the latest information
Cunning is a synonym for devious in crafty topic. You can use "Cunning" instead the word "Devious" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as dishonest, lying. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- They have a cousin species called the Torva, who are smaller than their cousins, but far more devious and cunning.
Source: Video Game / Dins Curse - In one episode, the Parasite has absorbed the personality of a particularly cunning and devious villain, and the two personalities team up... for a while.
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Shizuku from Kämpfer does this to help show the audience that she's a particularly cunning and devious Student Council President.
Source: Finger Tenting
Cite this Source
Devious and Cunning. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/devious
Cunning & Devious. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/devious>.
Devious or Cunning. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/devious.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cunning" and "devious" have occurred on timeline