as in indirect
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as in turning
to change one's course or direction
sailors forced to deviate from their course in order to avoid the storm
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deviating
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
Not deviating from those standards is equally important.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The resolution would authorize the state to redraw its congressional district maps in the middle of the 10-year cycle, deviating from the current practice of redistricting only after the federal census every 10 years.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Salomon has unveiled its latest super shoe, and in doing so, is deviating from the usual script on energy return.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
But Beijing and other critics see Japan as deviating from its postwar peace pledge, pointing to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statement soon after taking office that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
And while that's true, the show is also its own beast, deviating greatly from King's story by weaving in military intrigue, spycraft, and Native American mythology.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
Reagan championed free trade while selectively deviating from it, according to the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Occurring more than halfway through the performance, the scene is used to introduce the tragic backstory of the Phantom character at a freak show — a new narrative deviating from the original source material.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
The show may change the happily ever afters of both leading ladies in Season 5 and Season 6, deviating from the Bridgerton books.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
Not deviating from those standards is equally important.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The resolution would authorize the state to redraw its congressional district maps in the middle of the 10-year cycle, deviating from the current practice of redistricting only after the federal census every 10 years.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Salomon has unveiled its latest super shoe, and in doing so, is deviating from the usual script on energy return.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
But Beijing and other critics see Japan as deviating from its postwar peace pledge, pointing to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statement soon after taking office that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
And while that's true, the show is also its own beast, deviating greatly from King's story by weaving in military intrigue, spycraft, and Native American mythology.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
Reagan championed free trade while selectively deviating from it, according to the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Occurring more than halfway through the performance, the scene is used to introduce the tragic backstory of the Phantom character at a freak show — a new narrative deviating from the original source material.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviating
Adjective
-
The latest threat was made one day after the United States and Iran concluded their first two rounds of indirect nuclear talks in Oman.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
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Winemaker Kristina Shideler explains that most of these vineyards sit within the inversion layer—meaning they are covered with fog in the early part of the day—which offer a cooling effect and indirect sunlight into mid-day.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The program has focused on turning waste into artwork while raising awareness about how much plastic the community throws away.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
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King then collided with the passenger side of 2015 GMC Terrain, which was headed north on Missouri 291 and turning west into a shopping center at Elizabeth Street, Mulch said.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The journey there was circuitous, basically random.—
Alexandra Romanoff,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
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Her course to bobsled success has been arduous and circuitous, including moments of firsts for a woman – one of the firsts to pilot a mixed-gender team in four-man, and the first to drive an all-female team against men in a World Cup – and fights for a woman.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This monologue on housing theory was a roundabout way of explaining a photo of Censori with her mother, aunt, and sister, in which Censori looks like the daughter of a Real Housewife of New Jersey, with a clementine tan and leopard-print bustier.—
Anna Peele,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
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Police identified the man as a drug dealer in a roundabout way.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In Paris, Boubalé also plays around with its spritz for the winter by veering away from the drink’s bitterness and citrus-forward profile.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
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If your brand of romance is veering a touch moodier (or nonexistent) this year, why not exchange pale pink for a soft baby blue?—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Both countries are diverging on trade, too.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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The visit underscored diverging narratives about the rebuilding process in Los Angeles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deviating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviating. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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