steer

1
as in to guide
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front the man in the train station was able to steer us in the right direction

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to pilot
to operate or control the course of first needed to learn how to steer her personal watercraft before going out on the crowded lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb steer contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of steer are engineer, guide, lead, and pilot. While all these words mean "to direct in a course or show the way to be followed," steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

steered the ship through a narrow channel

When is engineer a more appropriate choice than steer?

Although the words engineer and steer have much in common, engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.

engineered his son's election to the governorship

In what contexts can guide take the place of steer?

While the synonyms guide and steer are close in meaning, guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

guided the scouts through the cave

Where would lead be a reasonable alternative to steer?

The synonyms lead and steer are sometimes interchangeable, but lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

led his team to victory

When can pilot be used instead of steer?

The words pilot and steer can be used in similar contexts, but pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

piloted the bill through the Senate

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 steer The researchers tracked the capsule’s movement using x-ray fluoroscopy, confirming that it could be steered safely and retrieved through magnetic guidance. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025 Valley Oak Partners filed the development application and steered the proposal through the city review process. George Avalos, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025 Further, when respondents were asked which party voters trust to steer the country, Republicans led by 7-points (44% – 37%), per the aforementioned Quantus Insights survey. Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025 The upshot is that technical solutions or legal interventions will not ultimately be the thing that helps our kids make full use of the numerous benefits of AI while also steering clear of its worst traits. Kevin Frazier, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for steer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steer
Verb
  • Over the past two decades, the ordinances guiding the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM) have been revised multiple times to strengthen its capacity to serve the public effectively.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Of course, the expert teachers of the school were happy to guide women back to a true feminine balance.
    Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The helicopter was piloted by Eric Nixon, who is described as an aviation influencer known for doing daring maneuvers.
    Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
  • But earlier this year, the government fast-tracked its self-driving goals to let companies pilot their taxi- and bus-like services by spring 2026.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As a direct result of this, businesses end up with managers who aren’t confident in their ability to lead, and who struggle to deal with the various challenges that come with managing people, leading both employees and struggling managers to resign.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The Pima Critical Incident Team was activated after the incident with the Oro Valley Police Department assigned to lead the investigation, Adger said.
    Julie Mendes, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At the end of the week, Mel struggled to navigate his feelings for each woman.
    Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • While most humans are brushing their teeth and heading to bed, hundreds of millions of birds are taking to the sky – migrating south for the winter, using the moon and the stars to navigate on a journey that will take them thousands of miles.
    Hannah Chinn, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Stir 1/2 cup flour into fat in Step 2; continue as directed.
    Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Paulson braved the press, and fielded questions about what Keaton meant to her all these years after having met while shooting The Other Sister, the 1999 drama directed by Garry Marshall.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Our amygdala is overactive, our nervous systems are fried and our dopamine cycles are hijacked by short-term stimuli.
    Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The film, produced by Star Platinum, dramatizes a 1970 incident in which a communist group hijacked a passenger plane and diverted it to Pyongyang.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • White is accompanied on the emotional adventure by Jeremy Strong, who plays Springsteen's co-producer and manager Jon Landau, as well as Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Graham, and Odessa Young.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Although only five minutes in length, The Magic Lantern gives us a momentary glimpse of the magic of cinema as a burgeoning medium and the inchoate experimentation that accompanied its first decades as a studio invention.
    Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The tech company subsequently hired Amy Pascal and David Heyman to help shepherd the new film and brought on Dune director Denis Villeneuve to helm the next installment.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Amassing over 9 million views on YouTube for his short, Pal co-wrote the feature screenplay with Danny Barclay and will helm the adaptation in his feature directorial debut.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Steer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steer. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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