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
Not having these numbers would be curveball for the Federal Reserve, which has said it is increasingly focused on the health of the labor market.
—
Alex Harring, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Unlike Bob or Neil, but like Willie, Paul doesn’t throw many curveballs into the set.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
Morton struck out Alexander Canario on five pitches to start the second inning – every pitch below and/or outside the strike zone, four of them curveballs, including a swinging third strike.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Neither can throw, and Colelman, who is eager and combative, handles outside curveballs like a man fighting bees.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curveball
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Alex Harring, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Unlike Bob or Neil, but like Willie, Paul doesn’t throw many curveballs into the set.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
Morton struck out Alexander Canario on five pitches to start the second inning – every pitch below and/or outside the strike zone, four of them curveballs, including a swinging third strike.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Neither can throw, and Colelman, who is eager and combative, handles outside curveballs like a man fighting bees.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 2025.
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