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Crooked vs Devious - What's the difference?

crooked | devious |

As adjectives the difference between crooked and devious

is that crooked is not straight; having one or more bends or angles while devious is deviating; not straightforward or honest, not frank; not standard.

As a verb crooked

is (crook).

crooked

English

Etymology 1

From crook, equivalent to .

Verb

(head)
  • (crook)

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) croked, crokid, past participle of . More at (l).

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Not straight; having one or more bends or angles.
    • We walked up the crooked path to the top of the hill.
  • Set at an angle; not vertical or square.
    • That picture is crooked - could you straighten it up for me?
  • (figuratively) Dishonest or illegal; corrupt.
    • He was trying to interest me in another one of his crooked deals.

    devious

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Deviating; not straightforward or honest, not frank; not standard.
  • * 1839 , Frederick Marryat, The Phantom Ship
    • Keeping close in to the shore, they discovered, after two hours run, a fresh stream which burst in a cascade from the mountains, and swept its devious course through the jungle, until it poured its tribute into the waters of the Strait.