VEER Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'veer' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of veer are depart , deviate , digress , diverge , and swerve . While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," veer implies a major change in direction. // at that point the path veers to the right

Q: When would 'depart' be a good substitute for 'veer'?

While in some cases nearly identical to veer , depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type. // occasionally departs from his own guidelines

Q: When could 'deviate' be used to replace 'veer'?

The synonyms deviate and veer are sometimes interchangeable, but deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course. // never deviated from her daily routine

Q: In what contexts can 'digress' take the place of 'veer'?

Although the words digress and veer have much in common, digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse. // a professor prone to digress

Q: How do 'diverge' and 'depart' relate to one another, in the sense of 'veer'?

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

Q: When might 'swerve' be a better fit than 'veer'?

The words swerve and veer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness. // swerved to avoid hitting the dog

veer 1 of 2

verb

ˈvir

Definition of veer next

as in to deviate

to change one's course or direction at this point the river veers to the southwest before finally emptying into the Atlantic Ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to turn

to change the course or direction of (something) veered the ship abruptly to the right to avoid a collision

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to swerve

to depart abruptly from a straight line or course without warning the car veered to the left and into an oncoming truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straighten

veer

2 of 2

noun

as in turn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb veer contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of veer are depart, deviate, digress, diverge, and swerve. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

When would depart be a good substitute for veer?

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

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When could deviate be used to replace veer?

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

never deviated from her daily routine

In what contexts can digress take the place of veer?

Although the words digress and veer have much in common, 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, in the sense of veer?

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 might swerve be a better fit than veer?

The words swerve and veer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

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 veer

Verb

Police said video evidence showed Quinn’s truck veering on the road before eventually driving onto the dealership property. —

Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 11 Jan. 2025 After that, most of the atmospheric rivers that hit the West Coast from October into January veered northward into Washington, Oregon and Northern California instead. —

CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025

Noun

Read more Netflix’s Nobody Wants This and the Persistent Jewish Stereotype The Adam Brody and Kristen Bell rom-com series is a delightful binge, but veers into territory that's a bit too frustrating and predictable. —

Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2024 Malcolm Geminis have a reputation for plotting, being sly and trying to get away with stories that veer from the facts. —

Lisa Stardust, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for veer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for veer

Verb

The biggest event, the Oscars broadcast itself, has shown no indication of budging from its March 2 air date or deviating from standard operating procedure.

— Chris Lee, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
By 2019, the fluctuations had deviated so far from the prior model that scientists updated the WMM a year early.

— Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025