veer 1 of 2

1
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

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veer

2 of 2

noun

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
Flashback: During Crisp's early years, companies were loathe to share their data, but that changed with the pandemic when consumer-facing companies veered between empty shelves and a glut of inventory, Traasdahl explains. Richard Collings, Axios, 27 Mar. 2025 If she was incapacitated by a crash, her car could’ve veered into the river. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
The plot veers through various sidetracking convolutions and there is more exposition than necessary tied to supplementary characters. Christopher Smith, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2025 Musk’s recent veer into German politics has caused unease among top officials. Filip Timotija, The Hill, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for veer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veer
Verb
  • Even Porziņģis missing time throughout the playoffs didn’t force the Celtics to deviate much from their plan.
    Jay King, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The main function of the yeast deviated from producing good beer to simply being able to survive for an extraordinarily long period of time without its primary food source: barley sugar.
    Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Ryan Coogler first turned heads with his 2013 debut Fruitvale Station, a shattering account of a fatal shooting that presaged the surge of the Black Lives Matter movement.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Lisa Rinna turned Wednesday’s H&M & LA event in Los Angeles into a family affair, attending the event alongside her daughters Delilah Belle and Amelia Gray Hamlin.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Amy Bolding, an author from Boerne, Texas, related how an 18-wheeler driver on his cellphone swerved into the oncoming lane and hit the car carrying her 5-year-old daughter.
    Saul Elbein, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The driver attempted to swerve and avoid the collision but was unable to.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The final decisive twist in this most enthralling of promotion races?
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The knot on the front and the open rounded toe pay homage to your quintessential dress shoes, but the platform profile and wraparound ankle strap add an edgy twist.
    Nina Derwin, Glamour, 17 Apr. 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
Verb
  • Those scenes were ultimately cut for space before the show ever started production, so Mazin resurrected the idea for Season 2.
    Adam B. Vary, Variety, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The country’s Ministry of Trade and Industry cut its gross domestic product forecast to 0%-2% for 2025, down from its previous outlook of 1%-3%.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Rent from any of the various sports equipment centers in town, lather up with sunscreen, and float down the crystal clear river where alpine vistas are always just around the bend.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In north-central Kentucky, emergency officials ordered a mandatory evacuation for Falmouth and Butler, towns near the bend of the rising Licking River.
    Bruce Schreiner and Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The fourth plane, Flight 93, was diverted and crashed in Pennsylvania.
    Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Passengers aboard a United Airlines flight were temporarily diverted from their destination after an incident with a rabbit affected the aircraft’s engine.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Veer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veer. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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