curveball
noun
curve·ball
ˈkərv-ˌbȯl 
: a slow or moderately fast baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it swerve downward and usually to the left when thrown from the right hand or to the right when thrown from the left hand
curveball
verb
Examples of curveball in a Sentence
The batter struck out on a curveball.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gusto induces swings-and-misses with the four-seamer (30.0% Whiff), boasts a dangerous secondary offering (curveball — 30.8% Whiff) and, maybe most importantly, uses a changeup almost exclusively as an out pitch to lefties.
—
John Laghezza, New York Times, 2 May 2025
May 1, 2025 Cameron also mixed in his fastball, changeup and curveball.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2025
The Hall made sure to throw us some additional inductee curveballs, too.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
How To Shift Toward Proactive Leadership Leaders can’t predict every curveball.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curveball
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John Laghezza, New York Times, 2 May 2025
May 1, 2025 Cameron also mixed in his fastball, changeup and curveball.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2025
The Hall made sure to throw us some additional inductee curveballs, too.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
How To Shift Toward Proactive Leadership Leaders can’t predict every curveball.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curveball
Cite this Entry
“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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