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

Bass has never lost an election and won’t easily fold, even as her first term has careened from one crisis to another. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

On the second-team’s next series, Mondon lined up along the right edge — where starter Zack Baun has thrived — and careened into the backfield and batted Tommy DeVito’s pass attempt incomplete. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Brent's price careened between $72 and $102 last month as worries rose and fell about when the war with Iran would allow oil tankers to freely exit the Persian Gulf again to deliver crude to customers worldwide. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Three people were killed, and one person was injured in Bedford Park after a driver fleeing a police stop careened off a bridge and struck a freight train, Chicago police said. — Evgenia Anastasakos, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Mbappé had a chance for a critical goal in the 67th minute but his shot careened wide, and France remained scoreless as Les Bleus desperately searched for a scoring chance. — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026

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