devious
adj.adj. describing someone who uses clever but dishonest tricks to get what they want. You use this for people who are not direct or honest about their plans.
adj. characterised by insincerity or deceitful cleverness, often involving indirect methods to achieve a goal. Typically describes individuals, strategies, or behaviour intended to mislead.
He has a devious plan to win the election.
The manager used devious methods to convince the staff to work through the weekend without extra pay.
While the proposal appeared straightforward on the surface, a closer reading revealed several devious clauses designed to shift all financial liability onto the smaller partner.
1590s, "out of the common or direct way," from Latin devius (“out of the way, remote, off the main road”), from de via, from de (“off”) (see de-) + via (“way, road”). Compare deviate. Originally in the Latin literal sense; the figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1630s. Related to deviously, deviousness. Figurative senses of the Latin word were "retired, sequestered, wandering in the byways, foolish, inconsistent."
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'become'.