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 Simmons won the next two games as well and departed FAMU with a 3-2 record against Bethune-Cookman, leaving with a winning mark in a rivalry game that was first played exactly 100 years ago. Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025 The Gozo Channel ferry departs 24 hours a day from Cirkewwa on the northern tip of Malta and takes 20 minutes to cross. AFAR Media, 28 Aug. 2025 Robbins this month departed as chairman and CEO of Paramount Global in the wake of the sale to Skydance Media and David Ellison. Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025 He was scheduled to depart on October 1, 2023, but did not board the flight, ICE said in a press release. Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • Lord then exited the game and was replaced by right-hander Cole Henry.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Sox starter Shane Smith exited after the sixth, allowing four runs on seven hits.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In the past six years, more than 20 kids have died from unintentional shootings in Indianapolis, and in just over half of those cases, someone was criminally charged.
    Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Clough died from stomach cancer in September 2004, and again, that hit Kaminsky hard.
    Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • To move the 250 million gallons of refined fuel the Navy needs to fight, the fleet will require at least 23 tankers.
    Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The renowned financier and aviator perished in a plane crash in 2007, and Peggy held onto the home until her death in 2017, at which time it was sold to Vickers and his wife, Kerry.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2025
  • More than 2,700 of the victims perished in the fiery collapse of the trade center’s twin towers, and about 40% of those victims haven’t had any remains identified.
    Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Primrose ended up in the shelter after her previous owner went into assisted living.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Here are suggestions for staying safe during a thunderstorm: To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But, if wages don’t rise to match those jumps, consumer spending could fall and slow the economy.
    Raul Elizalde, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • For months, however, the proposal has been in limbo as gang violence surges, more neighborhoods fall and the country sets a new record, 1.3 million, for the number of people displaced by the violence.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The person who brought in the phone also told police about a DoorDash purchase of rubber gloves and garbage bags and a search history on the phone, such as how to get from Flint to Ohio, Bagiano testified.
    Christina Hall, Freep.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Tommy Fleetwood finally got the job done and won his first PGA Tour event.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • It was abandoned after several children disappeared there.
    Simon Thompson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Again, the pattern held: the unhappiness hump has disappeared worldwide, suggesting this phenomena is not confined to the U.S. and U.K. but a global generational shift.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

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