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
Fredrikze did so with a fastball that ranges from 88-91 mph and a go-to curveball.
—
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Planes and angles certainly help, but what would also help Ober is a Bert Blyleven curveball, considered the best in baseball history.
—Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 24 Jan. 2026
Even for fans who know the plot well, Season 4 will throw some curveballs at viewers.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
But in recent years, Betelgeuse has thrown astronomers a few puzzling curveballs that have required serious detective work to solve.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curveball
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Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Planes and angles certainly help, but what would also help Ober is a Bert Blyleven curveball, considered the best in baseball history.
—Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 24 Jan. 2026
Even for fans who know the plot well, Season 4 will throw some curveballs at viewers.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
But in recent years, Betelgeuse has thrown astronomers a few puzzling curveballs that have required serious detective work to solve.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 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 30 Jan. 2026.
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