deviate 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdē-vē-ət How to pronounce deviate (audio)
Definition of deviatenext
as in abnormal
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal the mother's deviate response to her child's death aroused suspicions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deviate

2 of 3

noun

ˈdē-vē-ət How to pronounce deviate (audio)
as in pervert
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard a sleazy bar that seemed to be an informal clubhouse for deviates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deviate

3 of 3

verb

ˈdē-vē-ˌāt How to pronounce deviate (audio)
as in to turn
to change one's course or direction sailors forced to deviate from their course in order to avoid the storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deviate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deviate are depart, digress, diverge, swerve, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When is it sensible to use depart instead of deviate?

Although the words depart and deviate have much in common, depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When is digress a more appropriate choice than deviate?

While the synonyms digress and deviate 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, in the sense of deviate?

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 can swerve be used instead of deviate?

The words swerve and deviate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

When might veer be a better fit than deviate?

In some situations, the words veer and deviate are roughly equivalent. However, 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 deviate
Adjective
Her pitch was simple: Homosexuality is a sin, and if homosexuals were given carte blanche to glamorize their ‘deviate lifestyle’ in Miami-area classrooms, the American family would be destroyed and the American way of life would disappear. —Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025 Aggravating circumstances: Rape/criminal deviate conduct, on probation or parole, mutilation/torture. —Tim Evans, Indianapolis Star, 31 Jan. 2014
Noun
The map shows how far the night skies in different parts of the world deviate from natural sky brightness. —Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2016 But despite the stress on the program, Campbell didn’t deviate from his core values — choosing redshirt sophomore quarterback Hunter Dekkers over anyone from the portal. —Dallas News, 14 July 2022
Verb
Soto has not deviated from his routines and has not shown any outward frustration. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025 Finch faced fan criticism for sticking with starters Mike Conley and Randle and not deviating from an eight-man rotation to give young players like Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. more run. —Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for deviate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviate
  1. abnormal
  2. pervert
  3. turn
  4. unnatural
  5. degenerate
  6. swing
  7. rake
  8. diverge
Adjective
  • According to investigators, the medical records showed that an amphetamine urine screen was abnormal and presumptive positive.
    — Staff report, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
  • Two incredible teams making an abnormal number of mistakes in the field and on the basepaths, which can often be the case on such a stage.
    — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 5 June 2025
Definition of abnormal
Noun
  • Special-guest pervert Frank (Sam Rockwell) showcases a monologue about his autogynephilia.
    — Armond White, National Review, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Just when things are looking up — a haughty British couple leaves this daughter of Oxfordshire a handsome tip — the dinner pervert turns up for his morning coffee.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of pervert
Verb
  • Today, in a world still healing from a global pandemic and grappling with economic, political and climate uncertainty, the temptation to turn inward is strong.
    — Kendra MacDonald, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The troop deployment is yet another extraordinary effort to quell simmering demonstrations across Los Angeles, some of which have turned violent, in protest of flash raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in recent days.
    — Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Definition of turn
Adjective
  • While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.
    — Annie Blackman, Allure, 31 May 2025
  • Concurrently, fire exclusion policies aimed to protect young stands but inadvertently led to unnatural fuel accumulation beneath regenerating trees.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of unnatural
Noun
  • Novak: The fact that this group of degenerates, these bloodsucking, mass-murdering vampires and wannabe vampires, [could be] so lovable is amazing.
    — Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • Those who hold advanced degrees in mathematics and analytics, or your favorite degenerate gambler, know any piece of datum is only reliant on the trove of data that occurred previously.
    — Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 7 May 2025
Definition of degenerate
Verb
  • During the argument, Goins swung the golf club at Jones, a witness told police.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2025
  • Reserve forward Obi Toppin helped swing the game, draining five 3s off the bench.
    — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 6 June 2025
Definition of swing
Noun
  • Flattening and Excavation One of the best ways to eliminate existing ant hills is to level the ant hill with a rake or shovel.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
  • The cabinet measures approximately 53 inches wide, 64 inches tall, and 17 inches deep, offering ample storage space for tool boxes, shovels, rakes, leaf blowers, potting soil, and more.
    — Maggie Horton, People.com, 12 May 2025
Definition of rake
Verb
  • For my generation, Gen Z, reaching such a milestone is hard to fathom, in large part because of the diverging politics of young men and women.
    — Caroline Downey, National Review, 12 June 2025
  • The spread between inventory costs and inventory levels is the highest its been since the pandemic The metrics typically track together but diverged in the first months of 2025 as importers rushed to get goods into the U.S. ahead of tariffs.
    — Lori Ann LaRocco, CNBC, 5 June 2025
Definition of diverge

Browse Nearby Words

deviants
deviate
deviated
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Cite this Entry

“Deviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviate. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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