Synonym Chooser

How does the verb depart contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of depart are deviate, digress, diverge, swerve, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

Where would deviate be a reasonable alternative to depart?

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

never deviated from her daily routine

When could digress be used to replace depart?

While the synonyms digress and depart are close in meaning, 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?

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 is it sensible to use swerve instead of depart?

The meanings of swerve and depart largely overlap; however, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

When can veer be used instead of depart?

The words veer and depart are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

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 depart The show has had a rotating list of people sitting alongside Hager since Hoda Kotb departed the morning series in January. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 6 June 2025 President Donald Trump and Elon Musk (R) speak before departing the White House on his way to his South Florida home in Mar-a-Lago in Florida on March 14, 2025. Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 5 June 2025 Wilson, like Fields, departed Pittsburgh after just one season and is now with the New York Giants. David Close, CNN Money, 5 June 2025 The 26-year-old England full-back will depart Anfield after nine years with the first team that brought 352 appearances, 23 goals, 86 assists and eight domestic, European and world trophies. Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • This demographic shift is creating a double whammy for employers: Not only are fewer people seeking new opportunities, but a significant portion of the experienced workforce will soon exit the market.
    Duane Tursi, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The Dallas phone company had taken a blood-bath in its four-year foray into entertainment and was eager to exit.
    Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • Wayne Lewis, founding member of hit R&B group Atlantic Starr, died on Thursday (June 5).
    Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 9 June 2025
  • The filming of his funeral took three full days, and Hogestyn died the following weekend.
    Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • Trump's deportation policies have moved toward workplaces, as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement tries to reach the White House's goal of 3,000 deportations a day.
    Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 14 June 2025
  • As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • Language begins to perish: The same words recur, deadeningly.
    James Parker, The Atlantic, 27 May 2025
  • But keeping the oysters out of the reef during peak feeding season could have caused some to perish, Fiala said.
    Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The three woman lived in the Moscow home with two female roommates who went physically unharmed in the attack, while Chapin was Kernodle’s boyfriend and stayed over for the night.
    Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2025
  • With his chapter now complete with the Browns, Chubb will go down as one of the best running backs in team history.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • Connecticut is coming off a blowout loss against the Mystics, falling 104-67.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
  • Wolfe's consistent buyback basket screens for companies that have such a track record of stock repurchases that their share counts have fallen for at least 10 straight years.
    Brian Evans, CNBC, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • Christina Aguilera didn't let the haters get her down early in her career.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 14 June 2025
  • That is the thrust of what Netanyahu has said by way of reason for the attack now – that intelligence shows that Iran was getting closer to a possible breakout status for a nuclear weapon.
    Javed Ali, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • This marks a significant expansion of the President's Choice line, which sees its limited-release bottles quickly disappear into the hands of bourbon collectors and whiskey enthusiasts.
    Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • For example, the GFS could spit out a prediction for a US hurricane landfall about 10 days from now, only to have that chance completely disappear as the forecast date draws closer.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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