deviating from a straight course; "a scenic but devious route"; "a long and circuitous journey by train and boat"; "a roundabout route avoided rush-hour traffic"
disapproval If you describe someone as devious you do not like them because you think they are are dishonest and like to keep things secret, often in a complicated way. Newman was devious, prepared to say one thing in print and another in private + deviousness de·vi·ous·ness the deviousness of drug traffickers
indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading; "used devious means to achieve success"; "gave oblique answers to direct questions"; "oblique political maneuvers"