curveball
noun
curve·ball
ˈkərv-ˌbȯl 
: a slow or moderately fast baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it swerve downward and usually to the left when thrown from the right hand or to the right when thrown from the left hand
curveball
verb
Examples of curveball in a Sentence
The batter struck out on a curveball.
Recent Examples on the Web
The reveal is surprising and, ideologically, something of a curveball.
—
Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 12 Jan. 2025
So that’s a slider that wasn’t missing bats as often and a curveball that was getting hit much harder.
—Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Ferguson tried his hand as a starter coming up through the Dodgers' organization, but tried unsuccessfully to incorporate a changeup as a third offering to compliment his strong fastball and curveball.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Though criminals may be targeted first in any mass deportation, this move in Florida is chilling for Dreamers, who have been handed curveball after curveball by different administrations.
—Miami Herald Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for curveball 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 12 Jan. 2025
So that’s a slider that wasn’t missing bats as often and a curveball that was getting hit much harder.
—Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Ferguson tried his hand as a starter coming up through the Dodgers' organization, but tried unsuccessfully to incorporate a changeup as a third offering to compliment his strong fastball and curveball.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Though criminals may be targeted first in any mass deportation, this move in Florida is chilling for Dreamers, who have been handed curveball after curveball by different administrations.
—Miami Herald Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for curveball
Articles Related to curveball
Dictionary Entries Near curveball
Cite this Entry
“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share