What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Intricate vs Devious - What's the difference?

intricate | devious |

As adjectives the difference between intricate and devious

is that intricate is having a great deal of fine detail or complexity while devious is deviating; not straightforward or honest, not frank; not standard.

As a verb intricate

is to become enmeshed or entangled.

intricate

English

Alternative forms

* entricate

Etymology 1

From (etyl) intricatus'' (past participle of ''intricare ).

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having a great deal of fine detail or complexity.
  • :
  • *(Joseph Addison) (1672–1719)
  • *:His style was fit to convey the most intricate business to the understanding with the utmost clearness.
  • *
  • *:As a matter of fact its narrow ornate façade presented not a single quiet space that the eyes might rest on after a tiring attempt to follow and codify the arabesques, foliations, and intricate vermiculations of what some disrespectfully dubbed as “near-aissance.”

    • Etymology 2

    As the adjective; or by analogy with extricate

    Verb

    (intricat)
  • To become enmeshed or entangled.
  • * 1864 October 18, J.E. Freund, “ How to Avoid the Use of Lint”, letter to the editor, in The New York Times (1864 October 23):
    • washes off easily, without sticking or intricating into the wound.
  • To enmesh or entangle: to cause to intricate.
  • * 1994 December 12, , “ Avoid Dunkirk II” (essay), in The New York Times :
    • But the British and French won't hear of that; they want to get their troops extricated and our ground troops intricated .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    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.