as in to veer
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the crowd roared as the clown on the bicycle zagged while the other clowns, in hot pursuit, zigged
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of zag
The Broncos defender squared himself for the tackle, only for Washington to zag left at the last second.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Better yet, airlines and hotels often offer deals to fill seats and rooms in places that aren’t oversubscribed, meaning your willingness to zig when others zag can pay off in both savings and a more relaxed trip.
—Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 29 Sep. 2025
When everyone else zigs, you zag.
—Talbott Roche, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
During a bustling morning shift, Moua zags between tables as diners lean against bench pillows handstitched with fabric cut from traditional Hmong dresses.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zag
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Better yet, airlines and hotels often offer deals to fill seats and rooms in places that aren’t oversubscribed, meaning your willingness to zig when others zag can pay off in both savings and a more relaxed trip.
—Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 29 Sep. 2025
When everyone else zigs, you zag.
—Talbott Roche, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
During a bustling morning shift, Moua zags between tables as diners lean against bench pillows handstitched with fabric cut from traditional Hmong dresses.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zag
Verb
-
That’s a strong hook, but Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke is just getting started with an erotic political tragicomedy that, like a Roomba, is forever veering off in unexpected directions.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Investigators believe six people were in the SUV, which was heading northbound on Oakdale-Waterford Highway when the vehicle veered off the right side of the road and crashed into a concrete barrier.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As much as the young offensive mind trend caught on post-2017, there appears to be a wave of teams trying to zig while others zag.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
And some companies zig as others zag.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To achieve the look, use a flatiron to gently curve the ends under before tucking behind your ears.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, topography made this impossible, and Costa had to curve one of the axes, resulting in the airplane shape that made his project famous.—
Sophia La Banca,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Even as Michigan State came roaring back in the second half, cutting the lead to just two in the final minute, UCLA never flinched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Orangefield cut the lead to 8 points a couple of times late in the game, but Cobb made 5 of 6 free throws in the final 46 seconds to keep the Bobcats at bay.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zag. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
