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
Two thousand feet above, an ice block the size of a suburban house calved off the cliff and careened down, breaking apart and spewing destruction in every direc- tion.
—
Maya Silver, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2025
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 0.7%, but only after careening between an earlier loss of 1.1% and a later gain of 1.1%.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
In 1967, attempting to push-start his car after a late night at work, Eversley careened down a gully and nearly died.
—News Desk, Artforum, 24 Mar. 2025
After Trump clarified the 145-percent duty on Chinese goods, the S&P, Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average immediately careened downward, losing half the gains of Wednesday’s rally.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for careen
Maya Silver, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2025
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 0.7%, but only after careening between an earlier loss of 1.1% and a later gain of 1.1%.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
In 1967, attempting to push-start his car after a late night at work, Eversley careened down a gully and nearly died.
—News Desk, Artforum, 24 Mar. 2025
After Trump clarified the 145-percent duty on Chinese goods, the S&P, Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average immediately careened downward, losing half the gains of Wednesday’s rally.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for careen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careen
Verb
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And now that governments in many rich countries have sharply lurched to the right and taken more skeptical stances on aid, this industry is collapsing.—
Zainab Usman,
Foreign Affairs,
5 May 2025
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German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz was one of the first European leaders to grasp the long-term implications of the American lurch toward authoritarianism.—
David Axe,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Even then, this was staggered, with First Division clubs subject to the Green Guide from 1976 onwards and the rest three years later.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
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That’s because there are actually 15 different broods at large, 12 of them observing a 17-year schedule and three making their appearance every 13 years—and the broods’ emergences are staggered.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
8 May 2025
Verb
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In one jump-cut scene, the little girl scurries back to the noodle stop through the market while percussive music plays, bursting with fear and excitement at her new illicit hobby.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
15 May 2025
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The other women scurry out as the Guardian looks on, stymied.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Or, simply hang up a hammock and sway to the sound of the stream, songbirds and the gentle swoosh of the wind through the trees.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
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Mayoral sway Chicago mayors have a history of bending the requirements of the head of schools’ title to fit their goals for handling the unwieldy finances of CPS.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2025
Verb
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Among the companies charting this alternative path is Organic India, a wellness brand that has woven regenerative organic agricultural practices into its DNA long before the term became a mainstream badge of sustainability.—
Christopher Marquis,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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The singer sported an intricate top for her time on the show — silver chains woven together to form a halter-neck shape.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Los Blancos sped up talks after their 4-3 defeat to Barcelona on May 11, which effectively ended hopes of retaining their La Liga title this season.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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There are already dozens of newsletters bringing educators up to speed on how to use it to help students learn.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
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The new parents tried everything—rocking, feeding, lullabies—but nothing was working.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
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Longoria rocked a red maxi dress, while Bastón wore a black top and black cropped pants.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
13 May 2025
Verb
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In the clip, Danielle filmed her dog hurrying to the corner by the door.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
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Juan and Alfredo—who arrives just afterward—don’t have time to mourn their friend’s death and hurry to leave after seeing people with flashlights heading toward the building.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Careen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careen. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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