Synonyms of veer

veer 1 of 2

verb

ˈvir 

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

• deviate
• turn
• swing
• diverge
• sheer
• swerve
• wheel
• detour
• turn off
• tack
• turn back
• double (back)
• zigzag

2

as in to turn

to change the course or direction of (something)

veered the ship abruptly to the right to avoid a collision

Synonyms & Similar Words

• turn
• swing
• divert
• whip
• deflect
• redirect
• shift
• deviate
• move
• wheel
• avert
• swerve
• whirl
• switch
• curve
• sway
• sidetrack
• twist
• reverse
• swivel
• transfer
• bend
• shunt
• turn back
• rechannel
• zigzag

3

as in to swerve

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

• swerve
• turn
• cut
• curve
• wander
• zag
• sheer
• circle
• zig
• yaw
• bow
• break
• sweep
• bend
• arch
• skew
• weave
• arc
• deviate
• curl
• twist
• round
• pivot
• slew
• wheel
• loop
• hook
• stray
• spiral
• wind
• crook
• waver
• zigzag
• coil
• about-face

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straighten

veer

2 of 2

noun

as in turn

Related Words

• turn
• twist
• bend
• tilt
• list
• tip
• inclination
• cock
• angling
• dip
• bow
• nod

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

Recent Examples of veer

Verb

Investigators are working to understand why a small plane veered to the side while landing at a rural airport and crashed into a hovering Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, a federal official said Thursday. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

And some of the film’s most impressive frights take place in the dentist’s chair, veering into serious body-horror territory. — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Noun

Go back, watch the GIF above and look at where the ball is when Clement begins to veer. — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 8 June 2026

The tone of the first nine episodes veers wildly as the focus switches from character to character, story line to story line, and actor to actor, and that’s true of pretty much any young-people-in-the-city show. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026