detour 1 of 2

Definition of detournext
as in deviation
a turning away from a course or standard we'll regard this relapse as just a brief detour on your road to recovery from substance abuse

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detour

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to bypass
to avoid by going around we had to detour the construction zone in order to get to the stadium

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction we had to detour for a few miles around the section of highway under construction

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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 detour
Noun
Drivers will instead need to take a detour on I-84 at the Centennial Way or Franklin Road interchanges. Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026 Burman said the village still needs to meet with IDOT to finalize plans about the date of closure and what detours will look like. Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Airlines may be required to detour around restricted airspace, extend flight paths, or reroute aircraft through different hubs. Hana Al-Khodairi, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026 My driver detoured onto an unpaved track and our progress slowed. Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detour
Noun
  • The batteries will be equipped with sensors that detect any kind of temperature deviation.
    Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Through continuous learning, the system adapts to complex environments over time, reducing path deviation and improving efficiency.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Saudi Arabia is also bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, sending some of oil by pipeline across the country to be shipped from a Red Sea port.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
  • To bypass the red tape, the SINTEF team built its own craft from the ground up in its specialized drone laboratory.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Season two of One Piece brings in three rather surprising character appearances that deviate from their introductions in the anime and manga.
    Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The director's take deviates from Shelley's in its emphasis on forgiveness.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Ferreira, who appeared in the show's first two seasons, announced her departure from the series in 2022.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
  • So there’s an immediate potential role for him at right guard after the departure of Cole Strange.
    David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But critics see it as effectively the same practice, circumventing states’ sports betting laws and operating in places that have banned the practice.
    Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
  • In today’s case, by claiming that the Iranian regime was posing an imminent threat to the United States, the president can more easily circumvent congressional approval for military action and then turn to Congress after the fact if further action is needed.
    Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Zendaya first sparked wedding rumors last month when she was spotted with a gold band in place of her usual rock, though fans were unsure if the actor had simply turned her ring towards her palm or switched to a simpler ring to keep the real one safe.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Addressing a crowd of at least 100,000 on Budapest's Heroes' Square, Magyar charged Orbán's government with turning Hungarians against one another through propaganda and divisive policies, and of steering the country away from its rightful place among Western democracies.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The Heat, which has needed to qualify for the playoffs through the NBA’s play-in tournament in each of the last three seasons, needs to finish among the East’s top six teams to clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
  • The two sides are meeting for a fifth consecutive day Saturday in hopes of getting a CBA finished in a timely fashion to avoid any potential delays to the upcoming WNBA season.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The players had to swing from the opposite side of the plate — left-handed for righties and right-handed for lefties.
    Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The 28-year-old swung a hot bat before his injury and is 4 for 5 with the pair of extra base hits since his return.
    Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detour. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

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