curveball

noun

curve·​ball ˈkərv-ˌbȯl How to pronounce curveball (audio)
: 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
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.
The curveball was a weapon, inducing 11 whiffs on 14 swings. Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026 Latreille and Holland also expertly execute the curveball tracks on Fold. Reid Bg, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026 Those curveballs can hobble people's retirement plans. Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026 Minnesota Twins pitcher Kody Funderburk, and his wife, Alicia, were dealt a curveball. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for curveball

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curveball was in 1936

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Cite this Entry

“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 4 May. 2026.

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