curveball
noun
curve·ball
ˈkərv-ˌbȯl 
: a slow or moderately fast baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it swerve downward and usually to the left when thrown from the right hand or to the right when thrown from the left hand
curveball
verb
Examples of curveball in a Sentence
The batter struck out on a curveball.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mahmood, a close ally of Starmer, is seen as a possible curveball that could re-engage left-wing voters who feel dissatisfied with Labour while also offering concessions to right-wing voters concerned about the immigration crisis.
—
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, a younger friend or a member of a group might throw you a curveball.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Others of note Right-hander Bryce Meccage is 93-96 with a slider and curveball, spinning everything well, and lacking a real changeup while showing decent control but below-average command.
—Keith Law, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Your presence can turn curveballs into home runs.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curveball
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.
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, a younger friend or a member of a group might throw you a curveball.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Others of note Right-hander Bryce Meccage is 93-96 with a slider and curveball, spinning everything well, and lacking a real changeup while showing decent control but below-average command.
—Keith Law, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Your presence can turn curveballs into home runs.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curveball
Cite this Entry
“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
