swerve

1
2
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the bike path gently swerves to the right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction the hurricane had been following the coastline before it swerved and headed inland

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swerve contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swerve are depart, deviate, digress, diverge, and veer. While all these words 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

Where would depart be a reasonable alternative to swerve?

While in some cases nearly identical to swerve, depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When might deviate be a better fit than swerve?

Although the words deviate and swerve have much in common, deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When could digress be used to replace swerve?

The words digress and swerve can be used in similar contexts, but digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

How are the words diverge and depart related as synonyms of swerve?

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 would veer be a good substitute for swerve?

In some situations, the words veer and swerve are roughly equivalent. However, 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 swerve Another driver then made a turn, trying to swerve to avoid the fast-moving Expedition. Chris Spargo, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025 The creatives are perceptive about knowing when to play something for laughs and when to swerve, letting the audience stumble into an unexpected and very earnest emotional gut-punch. Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025 Sanchez swerved onto the freeway shoulder and hit Cortez, prosecutors said. Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 10 Mar. 2025 The problem with swerving was that there were nearby pedestrians that would be endangered. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerve
Verb
  • All of that will be entirely separate from the cost to taxpayers of administering a citywide special election, which could veer north of $10 million.
    Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Gascón has veered between being apologetic and remorseful about the posts, to raging against her critics.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Moving away from her usual hairstyles, Rihanna opted for a straight midi-bob cut that curved in at the tips and rested on her shoulders.
    Teresa Romero Martínez, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2025
  • See the conservatory, the rose garden, the Great Lawn, and the Bayou Boardwalk that stretches out over the river and curves back toward land.
    Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The laws of economics bend for no political movement, and the higher prices that inevitably result from tariffs will make clear to voters how badly the protectionists have misled them.
    David B. McGarry, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Lastly, swap in the crevice tool for corners and other hard-to-reach areas, especially spots under furniture, that usually require bending over or getting down on your hands and knees.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Justice Department also said that DOGE access doesn't deviate significantly from normal practices inside the agency, where employees are routinely allowed to search its databases.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Their decisions often deviated from strict legal precedent when faced with sympathetic defendants.
    Lars Daniel, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Instead of sending her just one, why not hook her up with a weekly, biweekly, or monthly subscription?
    Brie Schwartz, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The show has hooked audiences not just for its powerful performances, but its totally unique structure where every hour-long episode is a single, continuous shot which yes, actually happened and was not faked somehow to create this effect.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • An elegant ode to functionality, the studio installed a curtain rail around a daybed, allowing the space to be turned into an impromptu extra guest room.
    María Noval-Quílez, Architectural Digest, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The pair was involved in a heated altercation that reportedly turned physical before paramedics arrived on the scene, according to TMZ.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The arching windows inside the convention center reflect an architect’s genius.
    Scott Herhold, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Over and over, its head arched up as if to take in the sun, and then flopped backward as if its bones had liquified.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (Last week: 1) The betting odds have swung massively into Gilgeous-Alexander’s favor with Jokić missing so many games recently with an ankle injury.
    Zach Harper, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Still no timetable on anything, but he’s been able to swing the bat and feel like there’s been some steady improvement day after day.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerve. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on swerve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!