curveball

noun

curve·​ball ˈkərv-ˌbȯl How to pronounce curveball (audio)
: 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
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.
The curveball has been really good. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025 Sauer has six pitches in his arsenal, mainly relying on a cutter, four-seam fastball, slider and sinker while also mixing in a split finger and occasional curveball. Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 Snell struck out a season-high 11 in his six innings and had 22 swings-and-misses in all (nine on his changeup, seven on his fastball and six on his curveball). Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 11 Sep. 2025 Finney is definitely a big curveball, just seeing how he's dealt with the trauma. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for curveball

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curveball was in 1936

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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