Synonyms of careened

careened

verb

past tense of careen

1

as in lurched

to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions

the sled careened as it barreled down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lurched
• swayed
• rocked
• shook
• jerked
• tossed
• rolled
• wobbled
• halted
• vibrated
• seesawed
• tumbled
• weaved
• faltered
• pitched
• tottered
• waddled
• wavered
• vacillated
• staggered
• floundered
• stumbled
• teetered
• reeled
• hobbled
• jolted
• toddled
• blundered
• bucked
• hitched
• oscillated
• waggled
• undulated
• doddered
• wagged

2

as in staggered

to move forward while swaying from side to side

he careened unsteadily to the couch after hitting his head

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lurched
• staggered
• weaved
• tottered
• waddled
• rolled
• teetered
• reeled
• shuffled
• stomped
• stumbled
• rocked
• swayed
• doddered
• wobbled
• wavered
• seesawed
• barged
• floundered
• shambled
• blundered
• stamped
• pounded
• tramped
• clumped
• lumbered
• scuffled
• lumped
• swagged
• scuffed
• clomped
• galumphed
• tromped

3

as in sped

to proceed or move quickly

sounding its siren, an ambulance careened through the intersection

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sped
• raced
• scurried
• hurried
• rushed
• trotted
• drove
• traveled
• flew
• jumped
• chased
• zipped
• scooted
• ran
• darted
• buzzed
• stepped
• blew
• dashed
• scuttled
• rammed
• blasted
• whirled
• tore
• careered
• hurtled
• bolted
• hurled
• zoomed
• ripped
• hustled
• bowled
• rocketed
• blazed
• jogged
• barreled
• motored
• hastened
• rustled
• bustled
• breezed
• whisked
• pelted
• galloped
• humped
• coursed
• cracked (on)
• bundled
• hied
• shot
• jetted
• belted
• nipped
• bombed
• beat it
• flitted
• hared
• scampered
• sprinted
• highballed
• cannonballed
• streaked
• made tracks
• scudded
• stepped on it
• whizzed
• shook a leg
• stampeded
• hotfooted (it)
• accelerated
• scuffled
• got a move on
• beetled
• overtook
• quickened
• outpaced
• outran
• outstripped
• stepped out
• caught up
• arrowed
• beelined
• fast-forwarded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crept
• crawled
• dragged
• poked
• lingered
• lagged
• hung (around or out)
• poked
• loitered
• strolled
• sauntered
• ambled
• shuffled
• tarried
• dallied
• lumbered
• plodded
• dawdled
• decelerated
• slowed (down or up)
• dillydallied

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of careened

The fatal hit-and-run occurred less than two hours after a 13-year-old boy was killed riding on the back of a moped in Queens after his friend slammed into an open car door and then careened into a moving truck. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 30 June 2026

The ruling comes a month after a pickup careened at more than 50 mph into a crowd of people near the intersection of 85th Avenue and International Boulevard. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

Brunson, the Knicks’ leading scorer, pulled up with about 5 seconds left to take a 3-point shot which hit the front of the rim and careened off. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 10 June 2026

One person was seriously injured after their SUV careened into an intersection on Troost Avenue in Kansas City and hit a truck Wednesday morning, police said. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026

The vehicle careened into a deep gorge and was swept away. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

The ball careened off Benge’s glove and to his right. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026

The divorced mom of three, along with Ramirez and some pals, soaked up the sun, rode on personal watercraft and careened down a giant slide. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026

On his game winner, as Jake Oettinger careened toward the near post to square him up, Hughes very intentionally shot wide to the far side into a tangle of bodies. — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 1 May 2026