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
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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
3
as in sped
to proceed or move quickly
sounding its siren, an ambulance careened through the intersection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of careened
This one careened off Xavier Hutchinson’s hands and into the waiting arms of safety Craig Woodson.
—
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
Police were on scene Monday afternoon in Granada Hills after a Tesla driver lost control and careened into the Ali Baba Persian Restaurant.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
That’s when a Purdy pass got tipped at the line and careened off Christian McCaffrey’s hands into Drake Thomas’at the Seattle 3 for a comeback-crushing interception.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2026
In the months since, the two countries have careened from crisis to crisis.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
His car hit both highway walls then careened over a snowbank and fell 70 feet.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 9 Dec. 2025
That was bad news for Kermit the Frog, who careened into a tree and ripped.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
More than one person fell victim to wayward gourds that careened down Midland Road to the cheers and groans of an eager audience.
—Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
Hours later, the vessel careened into a nearby bridge, ejecting 19-year-old Mallory Beach into the dark water.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
Police were on scene Monday afternoon in Granada Hills after a Tesla driver lost control and careened into the Ali Baba Persian Restaurant.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
That’s when a Purdy pass got tipped at the line and careened off Christian McCaffrey’s hands into Drake Thomas’at the Seattle 3 for a comeback-crushing interception.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2026
In the months since, the two countries have careened from crisis to crisis.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
His car hit both highway walls then careened over a snowbank and fell 70 feet.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 9 Dec. 2025
That was bad news for Kermit the Frog, who careened into a tree and ripped.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
More than one person fell victim to wayward gourds that careened down Midland Road to the cheers and groans of an eager audience.
—Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
Hours later, the vessel careened into a nearby bridge, ejecting 19-year-old Mallory Beach into the dark water.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careened
Verb
-
The entire tech industry lurched into motion.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The relentless Chacon lurched outside after her just as his car door opened and out popped their 6-year-old son, begging his dad to stop.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Layoffs will be staggered through the site’s closure on April 29.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The pools are staggered across levels (some adults-only), and there are connecting rooms and kid-friendly food.—
Jonnie Bayfield,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Soon after, the driver of the Yukon sped away from the officer, the department said.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Suzuki sped through a PowerPoint presentation that catalogued twenty years of reporting.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The poll, sponsored by the Union-Tribune and 10News, found that only a relatively small portion of residents were swayed by arguments from the mayor and council that revenue from the fees is needed to avoid budget cuts.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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Millennials, resolute in their fatigue, are less swayed by surface-level marketing and more attuned to what actually makes work sustainable.—
Jasmine Browley,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thursday evening, the Senate agreed to fund DHS for just two weeks as lawmakers raced to pass a large spending package to avoid a partial shutdown.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Blue Devils raced to a 15-5 lead while the Canes missed eight of their first nine shots.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The fallout continues from the aggressive tactics of federal agents in Minnesota, with bipartisan calls for accountability after the state was rocked by two fatal shootings this month.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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So while the market will pay close attention to interest rate developments and indications, much of the scrutiny will go toward the ancillary events that have rocked the central bank.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The clatter of rising shutters echoed through the empty streets, the occasional rambler scurried past, along the walls, bundled tightly in his coat, women walked by with milk bottles tucked in shawls wrapped around their chests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
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Tirado scurried to at least half a dozen bags before finding his and pulling out … pickle juice.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This should have people across the country absolutely shook.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The birth of Endeavor startled Hollywood, but Endeavor’s subsequent takeover of powerhouse William Morris shook the town to its core.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Careened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careened. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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