swerve

verb

\ ˈswərv

How to pronounce swerve (audio)

\

swerved; swerving

Definition of swerve

intransitive verb

: to turn aside abruptly from a straight line or course : deviate

transitive verb

: to cause to turn aside or deviate

Other Words from swerve Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about swerve

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Synonyms & Antonyms for swerve

Synonyms

break,
cut,
sheer,
veer,
yaw,
zag,
zig

Antonyms

straighten

Choose the Right Synonym for swerve

swerve, veer, deviate, depart, digress, diverge mean to turn aside from a straight course. swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness. swerved to avoid hitting the dog veer implies a major change in direction. at that point the path veers to the right deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course. never deviated from her daily routine depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type. occasionally departs from his own guidelines digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse. a professor prone to digress diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions. after school their paths diverged

Examples of swerve in a Sentence

He lost control of the car and swerved toward a tree. the car swerved sharply to avoid the squirrel in the road

Recent Examples on the Web Some contemporary artisans attempt to swerve from Brazil’s rich design history. — Helena Madden, Robb Report, "Meet the Boundary-Breaking Brazilian Designers Making Some of the World’s Most Inventive Furniture," 13 Mar. 2021 The driver of a pickup truck tried to take the exit from the wrong lane, forcing the driver of the SUV to swerve to the right. — Andres Picon, San Antonio Express-News, "SUV goes airborne on I-35, crashes into compact car, kills 23-year-old woman," 7 Mar. 2021 What caused Ravnsborg to swerve onto the shoulder of the road where investigators say Boever was walking? — Stephen Groves, Star Tribune, "Wait baffles family of man killed in South Dakota AG crash," 13 Feb. 2021 Moscow police arrested him three months later, accusing him of grabbing the arm of the officer driving him to the station, causing the vehicle to swerve and endangering the lives of officers. — Elizabeth Thompson, Dallas News, "White House presses Russia to release Texan Trevor Reed, calls former Marine’s case a ‘mockery of justice’," 3 Feb. 2021 While the men were racing, another car entered the roadway from a nearby private property, causing Meath to swerve and lose control of his car, according to court documents. — Brooke Newman, The Arizona Republic, "Scottsdale police say 2 men were racing 'in excess of 120 mph' before crash killed 1," 16 Nov. 2020 In these works, thought tends to veer and swerve erratically, syntax is warped and logic suspended, and vocabularies and tones are mixed and recombined with wild abandon. — Troy Jollimore, Washington Post, "‘The Selected Letters of John Berryman’ is an intimate portrait of the celebrated, tortured poet," 22 Oct. 2020 Royle made a sharp turn to the right to swerve away from the danger. — Cassidy Randall, Time, "How One Man Survived a Plane Crash and 5 Days in the Snowy Canadian Wilderness—and Went On to Help Shape the Modern Ski Industry," 27 Dec. 2020 Three 14-year-old boys were crossing the street at the intersection of Meadowlark Drive and Glade Road at about 3:25 p.m. Friday when witnesses saw the driver swerve to go around another car. — Mary Grace Granados, Dallas News, "After hit-and-run leaves two boys injured, Grapevine police ask for help identifying driver," 2 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'swerve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

22 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Swerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swerve. Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for swerve

swerve

verb

English Language Learners Definition of swerve

: to change direction suddenly especially to avoid hitting someone or something

See the full definition for swerve in the English Language Learners Dictionary

swerve

verb

\ ˈswərv

\

swerved; swerving

Kids Definition of swerve

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to turn aside suddenly from a straight line or course The van swerved to avoid an oncoming car.

swerve

noun

Kids Definition of swerve (Entry 2 of 2)

: an act or instance of turning aside suddenly

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