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
The panoramic production from Richie Souf, the veteran architect behind some of the most uncanny tracks in Future’s catalog, provides the necessary curveballs for this synthesis of styles to truly land.
—
Serge Selenou, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
But almost routinely, a curveball is then thrown at opponents, many of whom in recent games either have been caught off guard or ill-suited with the switch to an active, aggressive zone.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
The 6-foot-1 right-hander from Prague has a low-90s fastball, a slider and a curveball and also recently added a changeup.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Steele had already been throwing bullpens the last few weeks, but was restricted from throwing his curveball.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curveball
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Serge Selenou, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
But almost routinely, a curveball is then thrown at opponents, many of whom in recent games either have been caught off guard or ill-suited with the switch to an active, aggressive zone.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
The 6-foot-1 right-hander from Prague has a low-90s fastball, a slider and a curveball and also recently added a changeup.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Steele had already been throwing bullpens the last few weeks, but was restricted from throwing his curveball.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curveball
Cite this Entry
“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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