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

Examples 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 The accident occurred on the Brightline train that departed from Orlando at 1:50 p.m. Around 3 p.m., as the passenger train was traveling through Vero Beach, the train struck a pedestrian near the railroad’s intersection with 12th Street. Roger Simmons, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Dec. 2024 Quintana was elected to the District 2 seat on Nov. 5 and took over departing board member Ofelia Zapata's seat during the Nov. 21 meeting. Keri Heath, Austin American-Statesman, 2 Dec. 2024 In fact, employees departing under negative circumstances may pose a higher risk. Andrew Sever, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 Participants will depart from Falls City at 9:30 a.m. and return at 4 p.m. for pizza and drinks. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 2 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for depart 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • Next is exiting a managerial role, possibly even moving out of the CEO role to sit on the board.
    Simon Bedard, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Police in hot pursuit exited their vehicles with their weapons drawn and ordered Ferguson and his girlfriend to get out of the vehicle with their hands up.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • On Election Day, Ramirez and Hernandez found out Hernandez’s brother Johnny died, undocumented, in Minersville, Pa.
    Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Diane Delano, a prolific character actress known for roles in Northern Exposure, Popular, PEN15, Days of Our Lives, and many other projects, has died.
    Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The team’s pattern of drafting college hitters who should move quickly says that that is not their mindset, so go spend some of Arte’s money.
    Keith Law, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The trial was moved from Jerusalem for undisclosed security reasons and convened in an underground courtroom.
    Reuters, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Historical records indicated that between 1804 and the Civil War, dozens of enslaved people perished at The Hermitage, but their burial site had faded from collective memory.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
  • The people who lived here over 5,600 years ago ate mostly plants, farmed, and some may have perished in an accidental fire.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • But the committee went with the ACC this time, putting 11-2 SMU in the field as the last at-large team, the No. 11 seed with a first-round trip to Penn State on the docket, and leaving 9-3 Alabama out.
    Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
  • This lovely man who was quite a dear friend, having worked together so closely, he was simply gone.
    Rachel Martin, NPR, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The nearly 300-mile trek from Atlanta was pivotal in showing the Confederacy was falling apart as Sherman’s troops gutted much of the key slave state.
    Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Broocks noted that the Sandy Hook lawsuit judgments could be overturned in pending appeals and got Murray to acknowledge that the Sandy Hook families' offer in The Onion bid could fall apart if that happens.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Anthopoulos said Grant Holmes will get a chance to win a starting job after impressing as both a reliever and starter in his 2024 rookie season.
    David O'Brien, The Athletic, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The way he's gotten to F1 has been a little difficult the last couple of years.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • For example, the Jackal has still not been paid for his successful assassination, and his wife has disappeared, leaving Redmayne to look for her and his family.
    Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
  • For Hughes and Hronek, time and space at the point disappeared from early December onward.
    Jimmy Durkin, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near depart

Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on depart

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