Embodiments include semiconductor devices related to compound varactor circuits. Specifically, a semiconductor device may be constructed of a modified anti-series string of varactor pairs, wherein one varactor in a varactor pair has an effective area larger than the other varactor. Varactor pairs in the anti-series string are arranged such that adjacent varactors coupling varactor pairs have equal effective areas. In some embodiments, the anti-series string may have four varactors (two varactor pairs.) In other embodiments, the anti-series string may have eight varactors (four varactor pairs) or twelve varactors (six varactor pairs). The compound varactor using the modified anti-series string of varactor pairs may be advantageous in reducing second harmonics related to parasitic capacitances in anti-series varactor applications.