veer 1 of 2

Definition of veernext
1
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction at this point the river veers to the southwest before finally emptying into the Atlantic Ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

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veer

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb veer contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of veer are depart, deviate, digress, diverge, and swerve. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

When would depart be a good substitute for veer?

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

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When could deviate be used to replace veer?

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

never deviated from her daily routine

In what contexts can digress take the place of veer?

Although the words digress and veer have much in common, 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 veer?

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 might swerve be a better fit than veer?

The words swerve and veer 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

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 veer
Verb
Only 13% of Democrats said the nation hasn't veered from the founding principles, while 20% of Republicans believe the nation still reflects them. Saige Miller, NPR, 1 July 2026 Yet the hearing veered off-topic when Republicans honed in on Ginexi’s testimony, which was unrelated to the program. Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2026
Noun
His friends, from brother Luigi (Charlie Day) to Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) veer in a similar direction, somehow coming across less fully formed and three-dimensional than their nearly speechless inspirations from Nintendo‘s flagship franchise. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026 The Horned Frogs had a mix of air raid and veer-and-shoot principles under Briles, but are expected to move more to a pro-style scheme under Sammis, who had excellent success with that style of offense at UConn. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for veer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veer
Verb
  • Honda's vehicles feature a distinct design language and identity that evolves without deviating from the brand's ethos.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • And yet at the start of the Mass, a priest read aloud a statement justifying the consecrations as a necessary defense of the faith and criticizing how the Catholic Church today had deviated from tradition.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Some critics on social media counter that the gatherings risk turning spirituality into spectacle, performance and commodity all at once.
    Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • The patriotic ball drop is scheduled to air at midnight ET on CNN as July 3 turns into July 4 in Times Square.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Independent testing by Motor Trend revealed that Max‑Performance summer tires improve cornering grip by 10 to 20 percent, which is a significant buffer when cornering or swerving to avoid an accident.
    Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The video allegedly showed that a driver who was apparently in front of Savino swerved into the middle lane in front of a tractor-trailer to avoid a collision, the warrant affidavit said.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • With granny shorts, these soft loafers create a relaxed put still put-together look that’s ideal for those who love a classic vibe with a trendy twist.
    René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 3 July 2026
  • And in a novel twist, there will be a ball drop in New York City’s Times Square at midnight to usher in the July Fourth holiday with much the same revelry that is typically reserved for New Year’s Eve.
    Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Beat a prime Holloway at 170, though, and the door swings back open to the paydays he's chased since the rematch became official.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • To the fans who have watched the Warriors swing and miss on free agents and various trade targets over the last few years, watching Simons sign with another team was painful.
    Nick Friedell, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • The lineup already was revving, as Rushing homered in the second inning while Sasaki was still in the game, and both Kyle Tucker and Muncy drove in runs off starter Randy Vasquez in the third, cutting the deficit to two.
    Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Potential applications beyond wind energy The researchers believe the manufacturing approach could cut production costs for small wind turbines and help more people use lightweight renewable energy technology.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Does the water take a sharp bend to enter the culvert?
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • Despite Iran’s threats, 20 of those ships had taken a route far south of Iran that hugs the coastline of the United Arab Emirates and bends along Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, avoiding Iranian waters.
    Matthew Mulligan, NBC news, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Now, that excess gets diverted into the Austerlitz basin instead, where it’s held deep underground until the weather clears, then pumped gradually to treatment plants outside the city.
    Camille Knight, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • Hotels are offering 50% discounts, schools, mosques and sports halls have been prepared to house mourners, and bus and rail networks are being diverted to serve the main events.
    Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 3 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Veer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veer. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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