Pronunciation: [dˈiːvɪəsnəs] (IPA) 
The word "deviousness" is spelled with five syllables - /diː.vi.əs.nəs/. The "d" is pronounced as a voiced dental fricative /ð/, the first vowel sound is a long "e" /iː/, and the "v" is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative /v/. The second vowel sound is a schwa /ə/ and the final syllable ends with the sound "ness" /nəs/. "Deviousness" refers to behavior or actions that are deceitful or not straightforward.
Deviousness is a noun that refers to the quality or act of being devious, deceitful, or deceptive. It is derived from the adjective "devious," which describes someone or something that tends to deviate from or go against the straightforward or honest course of action, often exhibiting a unpredictable or indirect way of achieving one's goals or intentions.
When someone engages in deviousness, they employ cunning, slyness, or scheming tactics to deceive or manipulate others. They may intentionally deviate from established rules, norms, or ethical principles in order to achieve personal gain, undermine others, or to avoid detection or blame. The devious individual may mask their true intentions or craftily mislead others through manipulative behaviors or strategic maneuvers.
Acting with deviousness can involve a variety of techniques, such as engaging in calculated lies, misleading others through carefully crafted narratives, exploiting loopholes, or subtly manipulating circumstances or people to one's advantage. Such behavior often lacks transparency and honesty, making it challenging for others to fully trust or understand the true motives of the devious individual.
Deviousness can manifest in various contexts, including personal relationships, politics, business, and various forms of interpersonal interactions. However, it is generally considered negative and morally objectionable due to its inherent dishonesty and tendency to harm or exploit others for personal gain.
State of being astray.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "deviousness" is derived from the adjective "devious". The term "devious" originates from the Latin word "devius", which means "out of the way" or "remote". It is formed by combining the prefix "de" (meaning "away" or "off") and the Latin word "via" (meaning "road" or "way"). Over time, "devious" has come to suggest something indirect, cunning, or deceitful. Thus, "deviousness" refers to the quality or state of being devious, describing behavior that is sneaky, sly, or intentionally misleading.
