1
as in deviated
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
Relevance
2
as in swung
to change the course or direction of (something)
veered the ship abruptly to the right to avoid a collision
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in swerved
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
without warning the car veered to the left and into an oncoming truck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 veered
Since the ceasefire, his public comments have veered from threats to restart bombing to declarations that a peace deal was at hand.
—
Reuters, NBC news, 20 May 2026
While Jarman veered from the bridal norm, Spencer’s classic suit with a light blue shirt was far more standard.
—Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 19 May 2026
But unlike Austin, which got ahead of itself, Denver appears to have veered off the race course.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
When held in darkness for long enough that the moon moved significantly, the ants veered off course, suggesting its position was their main cue.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 May 2026
Cara Delevingne veered sharply away from traditional red-carpet dressing in a dark pinstriped pantsuit layered over a sheer blouse.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
The Mustang was traveling west on Westinghouse Boulevard when the driver veered into oncoming traffic on the left, striking the Camaro, police said.
—Jeff A. Chamer
may 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026
Gately said witness statements gathered during a preliminary investigation suggested the driver was headed south on Allyn Street in a 2025 Ford T-250 van when the bicyclist, who was also going south in the right shoulder, veered into traffic and struck the side of the van.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2026
Officials said the man veered off the road for unknown reasons.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
Reuters, NBC news, 20 May 2026
While Jarman veered from the bridal norm, Spencer’s classic suit with a light blue shirt was far more standard.
—Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 19 May 2026
But unlike Austin, which got ahead of itself, Denver appears to have veered off the race course.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
When held in darkness for long enough that the moon moved significantly, the ants veered off course, suggesting its position was their main cue.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 May 2026
Cara Delevingne veered sharply away from traditional red-carpet dressing in a dark pinstriped pantsuit layered over a sheer blouse.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
The Mustang was traveling west on Westinghouse Boulevard when the driver veered into oncoming traffic on the left, striking the Camaro, police said.
—Jeff A. Chamer
may 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026
Gately said witness statements gathered during a preliminary investigation suggested the driver was headed south on Allyn Street in a 2025 Ford T-250 van when the bicyclist, who was also going south in the right shoulder, veered into traffic and struck the side of the van.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2026
Officials said the man veered off the road for unknown reasons.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veered
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the lawsuit said SSP America deviated from the core menu the parties had agreed upon, and began using recipes and serving dishes of lower quality at Gene's Bistro.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
Braun is no stranger to accent work, having deviated from his normal speaking voice to play comedian Andy Kaufman in 2024's Saturday Night and an Australian character for 2016's Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In a matter of hours, the South Korean Kospi swung from a fresh record high, above the 8,000 milestone, to a 6% loss.—
Katie Foley,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
-
Rowles was one of several RedHawks who swung a big bat Wednesday afternoon during a 17-0 nonconference win in four innings over visiting Providence in Chicago.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The suspect then allegedly swerved into the officer's lane, police say, prompting the officer to drive off into the shoulder to avoid a crash.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
15 May 2026
-
Just months after the unit started, one officer in an unmarked police car spotted a man on a dirtbike and swerved across a yellow line into oncoming traffic, hitting the motorcyclist head-on and sending him flying.—
Eric Umansky,
ProPublica,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
That mugshot—with her straight dark hair, motorcycle jacket, and flat, defiant stare—would come to represent a nation, and generation, in crisis; a startling declaration that America’s own sons and daughters had turned violently against their country.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Rather than focusing on the White House setting itself, White said his attention quickly turned toward how bugs could affect lighting, camera shots and the overall broadcast presentation during a live pay-per-view event.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The latter is what marked the winds that whipped the region on Sunday and resulted in the death of a 61-year-old Santa Rosa man,killed by a falling tree.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
-
There’s also a menu of small snacks, with mezzes like hummus, tzatziki, whipped feta, falafel, halloumi, artichoke and eggplant.—
Connie Ogle
May 15,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The Tempo cut it to three midway through the fourth while Brittany Sykes (27 points, seven assists) sparked Toronto’s rally.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
-
Kreutzer cuts clunkily and repeatedly between the ongoing crises in two households, presumably implying that the men in these women’s lives are all tarred with the same patriarchal brush.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
During a time when Lane Kiffin once again became the target of fans everywhere, his new AD stepped up and circled the wagons.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
For three years, the Wizards’ braintrust has circled 2026 as the draft.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Bum-seok listens impatiently to their second-hand accounts of tiger tracks being sighted in the mountains, leading them to assume the animal must have wandered all the way down from Siberia.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
-
The other day, an elephant wandered onto this very field.—
Diaa Hadid,
NPR,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Veered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veered. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
