swerve

verb

ˈswərv 

swerved; swerving

intransitive verb

: to turn aside abruptly from a straight line or course : deviate

transitive verb

: to cause to turn aside or deviate

swerve noun

Synonyms

• break
• cut
• sheer
• veer
• yaw
• zag
• zig

Choose the Right Synonym for swerve

swerve, veer, deviate, depart, digress, diverge mean to turn aside from a straight course.

swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions.

after school their paths diverged

Examples of swerve in a Sentence

He lost control of the car and swerved toward a tree.

the car swerved sharply to avoid the squirrel in the road

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year, Tesla settled a lawsuit over a 2018 car crash that killed an Apple AAPL.O engineer after his Model X, operating on Autopilot, swerved off a highway near San Francisco. —Mike Scarcella, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

The Financial Times reported earlier this week that the European Commission was mulling over options to help European companies end long-term gas contracts with Russia while swerving heavy penalties to Moscow, citing three anonymous officials with knowledge of the talks. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025

Authorities alleged that Higgins swerved around another car before crashing into the Gaudreaus, who were on bikes. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025

The family was returning home around 8 a.m. Sept. 20, 2023, when Solomon Gheorghe is accused of swerving their van into oncoming traffic near Bethel School Road, according to a Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office statement at the time. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English sweorfan to wipe, file away; akin to Old High German swerban to wipe off, Welsh chwerfu to whirl

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for swerve

• curve
• mirv
• nerve
• serve
• verve
• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve

Kids Definition

swerve

verb

ˈswərv 

swerved; swerving

: to turn aside suddenly from a straight line or course

swerve noun