Synonym Chooser

How does the verb depart contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of depart are deviate, digress, diverge, swerve, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

Where would deviate be a reasonable alternative to depart?

The synonyms deviate and depart are sometimes interchangeable, but deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When could digress be used to replace depart?

While the synonyms digress and depart are close in meaning, digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

How do diverge and depart relate to one another?

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

When is it sensible to use swerve instead of depart?

The meanings of swerve and depart largely overlap; however, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

When can veer be used instead of depart?

The words veer and depart are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of depart Ulta Beauty’s chief marketing officer Michelle Crossan-Matos also departed the retailer earlier this year. James Manso, WWD, 6 Feb. 2025 In order to get to Runway 33, Ground must cross both Runway 01 and Runway 04 while traffic is holding in position waiting to depart and traffic is approaching a 2 mile final to Runway 01. Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2025 The itinerary ends with a day in Vienna before guests depart. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2025 Meanwhile, a string of safety staff have departed OpenAI, citing concerns over the company’s direction. Harry Booth / Paris, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for depart 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • For example, Geico exited its Premier Partner status after the 2024 season.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Companies such as Gojek, Carousell and Grab were among the first to provide strong opportunities for investors to exit, or a way to sell their stake for a profit.
    Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • French died Friday in Los Angeles of complications from Alzheimer’s, his wife of 34 years, longtime Days of Our Lives actress Eileen Barnett, told The Hollywood Reporter.
    Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2025
  • But Butler’s debut signified the Warriors’ most hopeful moment in months, an introduction of a superstar who seems to blend well into their system, helps solve their biggest weaknesses and accentuates Curry, who has been dying for a co-star for a few seasons.
    Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Stocks haven’t moved much since the start of the year.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Washington Wizards Washington moved multiple players and brought in both Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The other person on board, who also perished in the crash, was a flight instructor, too.
    Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Some knew, and competed with, skaters who perished in the crash.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Hathaway's seconds-long appearance quickly went viral on social media as fans embraced the cheerful clip.
    Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
  • When the award top spots were announced on social, fans of the brand were quick to chime in with their favorite products–including a Trader Joe's item that has gone unlisted on the winners list.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Good news for green energy The cost of a utility-scale solar panels has fallen 82% since 2010, according to the the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025
  • That stock is up about 22% so far this year despite falling sharply during the DeepSeek sell-off in January.
    Jesse Pound, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Most people will get HPV, but the vast majority of people show no signs or symptoms.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Ferrell is on the cowbell, and fictional music producer Bruce Dickinson’s (Christopher Walken) gotta have more cowbell, baby.
    Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • But the billionaire heiress disappeared (as Season 2 viewers know).
    Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Afterwards, major characters — especially Pathi, the film’s most intriguing fixture — slowly disappear from the screen without much further inquiry into their interiority, as even potentially gut-churning, violent reveals are relegated to mere implications.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near depart

Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on depart

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