swerve

verb

ˈswərv 

swerved; swerving

intransitive verb

: to turn aside abruptly from a straight line or course : deviate

transitive verb

: to cause to turn aside or deviate

swerve noun

Synonyms

• break
• cut
• sheer
• veer
• yaw
• zag
• zig

Choose the Right Synonym for swerve

swerve, veer, deviate, depart, digress, diverge 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

veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

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

Examples of swerve in a Sentence

He lost control of the car and swerved toward a tree.

the car swerved sharply to avoid the squirrel in the road

Recent Examples on the Web

By melding the norteño and cumbia of their childhoods with their micro-generation’s penchant for embracing genre swerves (most of the band members are young millennials, save for Solís, who’s about to turn 22), Grupo Frontera has helped usher in a new era of música mexicana. —Paula Mejía, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2025

Troopers alleged that the vehicle was also swerving between the two travel lanes on the highway, state police said. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025

The case then swerved into unusual territory: The man would not agree to the procedure, so the police got a judge to order it. —Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2025

Everything about this was textbook: the scanning before receiving between the lines, the skip away from the defender, the swerving, looping strike that bamboozled goalkeeper Katherine Tapia, who could do nothing but sink slowly backwards to the ground. —Richard Amofa, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English sweorfan to wipe, file away; akin to Old High German swerban to wipe off, Welsh chwerfu to whirl

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for swerve

• curve
• mirv
• nerve
• serve
• verve
• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve

Kids Definition

swerve

verb

ˈswərv 

swerved; swerving

: to turn aside suddenly from a straight line or course

swerve noun