swerve

1
2
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the bike path gently swerves to the right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction the hurricane had been following the coastline before it swerved and headed inland

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swerve contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swerve are depart, deviate, digress, diverge, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

Where would depart be a reasonable alternative to swerve?

While in some cases nearly identical to swerve, depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When might deviate be a better fit than swerve?

Although the words deviate and swerve have much in common, deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When could digress be used to replace swerve?

The words digress and swerve can be used in similar contexts, but digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

How are the words diverge and depart related as synonyms of swerve?

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 would veer be a good substitute for swerve?

In some situations, the words veer and swerve 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 swerve Instead, one of them is messing around on the road, causing a driver to swerve, crash and fall off a cliff into the water. Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 18 July 2025 The robotaxis, which expanded their service area last week, have already faced public scrutiny after videos were posted to social media showing the vehicles driving in an oncoming traffic lane, stopping in the middle of intersections or in traffic, or swerving erratically. Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 17 July 2025 Irvine police investigators determined that a Honda Civic turned right on a red light onto Culver Drive, forcing a Toyota Corolla already in the intersection to swerve. Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 4 July 2025 Video shot by an unidentified drier behind the Jeep shows the Doberman being dragged for an unspecified time as the vehicle swerved along the roadway. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for swerve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerve
Verb
  • Police said that Heriot's car veered off the road and rolled over at about 6:45 p.m. local time, the outlets reported.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 21 July 2025
  • Conservatives should realize how Gunn veers into supporting open borders.
    Armond White, National Review, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • Enjoying an excellent day in front of a vociferous home support at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the 36-year-old found himself in a spot of bother when his tee shot at the par-four 11th curved into the rough on the right of the fairway.
    Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 19 July 2025
  • Most storms that form off Florida’s east coast tend to track north or northeast along the Atlantic, often curving away from the U.S. mainland.
    Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • But while the power cosmic itself can be deadly for drama, the fact that a child possesses this power has also proved to be a fertile creative engine in Marvel comics, attracting all manner of villains bent on manipulating Franklin into their own nefarious machinations.
    Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 July 2025
  • On July 24, Carr crowed to reporters about how far Skydance has been willing to bend to get approval of its deal.
    Josef Adalian, Vulture, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • For one thing, AI currently lacks the creativity, intuition or adaptability needed to deftly handle any emergency that deviates from historical flight data.
    Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 21 July 2025
  • Because the river winds, the streets accessing the docks in Lincoln Yards had to deviate in their headings.
    F.K. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Li Kun, a resident in Beijing eyeing a model by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng, said he was immediately hooked after a salesperson called him about new subsidies.
    Elaine Yu, CNBC, 21 July 2025
  • Once Gorges learned about this botanical feat, she was hooked.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 17 July 2025
Verb
  • The trade turned into one of the most lopsided deals in big-league history.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
  • Fister, meanwhile, turned into a strikeout machine, and well, a latter-day Alexander, with an 11.4 K/BB ratio and a 1.79 ERA in 11 starts.
    Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • Rural skies will also showcase the Milky Way arching across the southern sky.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 21 July 2025
  • It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south.
    Jenny Porter Tilley, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • Never did Nick Kurtz consider this, not as a young boy learning to swing left-handed in Lancaster, Pa., or during the charmed collegiate career that catapulted him into baseball’s consciousness.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 26 July 2025
  • Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer recently suggested the Houston Astros could swing a blockbuster trade deadline deal for Miami Marlins hurler Edward Cabrera in the coming days.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerve. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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