Indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading:
— Used devious means to achieve success.

synonym: oblique.

Roget 245: curved etc. v.; curviform^†, curvilineal^†, curvilinear; devex^†, devious; recurved, recurvous^†; crump^†; bowed etc. v.; vaulted, hooked; falciform^†, falcated^†; semicircular, crescentic; sinusoid [Geom.], parabolic, paraboloid; luniform^†, lunular^†; semilunar, conchoidal^†; helical, double helical, spiral; kinky; cordiform^†, cordated^†; cardioid; heart shaped, bell shaped, boat shaped, crescent shaped, lens shaped, moon shaped, oar shaped, shield shaped, sickle shaped, tongue shaped, pear shaped, fig shaped; kidney-shaped, reniform; lentiform^†, lenticular; bow-legged etc. (distorted) 243; oblique etc. 217; circular etc. 247.    aduncated^†, arclike^†, arcuate, arched, beaked; bicorn^†, bicornuous^†, bicornute^†; clypeate^†, clypeiform^†; cymbiform^†, embowed^†, galeiform^†; hamate^†, hamiform^†, hamous^†; hooked; linguiform^†, lingulate^†; lobiform^†, lunate, navicular^†, peltate^†, remiform^†, rhamphoid^†; rostrate^†, rostriferous^†, rostroid^†; scutate^†, scaphoid^†, uncate^†; unguiculate^†, unguiform^†.    ... show more

Characterized by insincerity or deceit; evasive:
— A devious character.

synonym: shifty.

Deviating from a straight course:
— A scenic but devious route.

synonyms: circuitous, roundabout.

Roget 279: deviating etc. v.; aberrant, errant; excursive, discursive; devious, desultory, loose; rambling; stray, erratic, vagrant, undirected, circuitous, indirect, zigzag; crab-like.    ... show more