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
Shifty is a synonym for devious in honest topic. In some cases you can use "Shifty" instead the word "Devious" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like dishonest, tricky. popular alternative
Shifty
Shifty adjective - Given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions.
Usage example: shifty politicians making deals to channel federal funds into their districts
Devious is a synonym for shifty in honest topic. You can use "Devious" instead the word "Shifty" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as tricky, deceitful, untrustworthy. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- A milder version of President Corrupt, President Scheming might not actually be involved in anything illegal, but he's certainly a devious and shifty political operative who tends to play dirty tricks and has very loose ethics at best.
Source: Our Presidents Are Different
Cite this Source
Shifty and Devious. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/devious/shifty
Devious & Shifty. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/devious/shifty>.
Shifty or Devious. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/devious/shifty.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "devious" and "shifty" have occurred on timeline