1
as in to lurch
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the sled careened as it barreled down the hill
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
he careened unsteadily to the couch after hitting his head
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to scurry
to proceed or move quickly
sounding its siren, an ambulance careened through the intersection
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of careen
His mother was working two jobs and his father, a longtime alcoholic who was often unemployed, was careening toward disaster.
—
Keith O'Brien, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2026
Within seconds, a tsunami of ice, snow and debris the size of a football field careened downhill around them, thick enough to nearly bury a house, authorities said, citing the accounts of survivors.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
In response, the stock market has careened and then recovered to historic heights, home sales hit a 30-year low, and the labor market remains sluggish.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Mother Tongue Film Festival; the ever-popular Garage Racing National Championships, which find bike riders careening through an underground parking garage; and events honoring Black History Month, including a film festival, walking tours and trivia.
—Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for careen
Keith O'Brien, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2026
Within seconds, a tsunami of ice, snow and debris the size of a football field careened downhill around them, thick enough to nearly bury a house, authorities said, citing the accounts of survivors.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
In response, the stock market has careened and then recovered to historic heights, home sales hit a 30-year low, and the labor market remains sluggish.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Mother Tongue Film Festival; the ever-popular Garage Racing National Championships, which find bike riders careening through an underground parking garage; and events honoring Black History Month, including a film festival, walking tours and trivia.
—Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for careen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careen
Verb
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Elsewhere in town, the original creature, played by Christian Bale, has lurched here from Austria still on his lonely quest for companionship.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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Then, just as abruptly, the plane lurched up, slamming everyone back to the ground.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Heat continues to stagger the minutes of its two top scoring guards.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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The result is a heavy blow to Starmer, whose leadership has staggered through a series of crises and suffered a near-death experience earlier this month.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Iranian missiles have sent Israelis scurrying for shelters multiple times a day and night.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
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DeMar DeRozan just slammed a water bottle to the floor, sending several courtside attendants scurrying into action to mop up the mess.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s no room to be swayed by any external influences or impressions.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
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Unlock The Mystery Surrounding A Lone Mailbox Sticking out like a sore thumb along gently swaying sea oats and majestic sand dunes, the Wrightsville Beach Mailbox is a legendary character in this part of North Carolina.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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His younger brother and lifelong filmmaking partner, Craig Renaud, recovered Brent’s body and decided to make a film that weaves together decades of the brothers’ reporting from global conflict zones, including Iraq, Haiti, Somalia, and Central America.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2026
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Advertisement Gates’ roughly chronological account weaves together major moments in each group’s history, from the Spanish Inquisition and American slavery to World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and beyond.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Warmer temperatures will cause plant growth and flowering to speed up so your blooms won’t last as long.—
Dawn Pettinelli,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2026
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After speeding through streets in Sherman Oaks and Studio City, the driver suddenly pulled over to the side of the road.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As blasts and gunfire rocked Kabul on Sunday, analysts said there is still room for escalation and no clear off-ramp.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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Irina Shayk rocked a bombshell look, donning a black strapless, form-fitting gown featuring a plunging sweetheart neckline and a thigh-high slit and a train.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When the wait had become alarmingly long, Lilian and Anna hurried into the woods.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
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Yet the Department of Homeland Security closed precheck lanes on Sunday to hurry along spending talks.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Careen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careen. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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