1
as in lurching
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 staggering
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 speeding
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 careening
Lyrically, the songs find the pair confronting the unknowability of adulthood all while careening between the intimacy of folk acoustics and the catharsis of electronic music.
—
Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026
Sri Lanka was careening from crisis to crisis, then came the Mideast war.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 29 May 2026
Since then, Republicans in more states have been careening closer to authoritarianism, adopting laws that undermine fair elections and suppress opposing viewpoints.
—Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Hunter Feduccia had an infield single, and then took second when Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson rushed a throw after fielding the grounder and sent it careening into first-base foul territory and into the Rays' bullpen.
—CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Hunter Feduccia had an infield single, and then took second when Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson rushed a throw after fielding the grounder and sent it careening into first-base foul territory and into the Rays’ bullpen.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
The first three episodes are a disaster, taking 90 minutes to establish a premise that needs to be wrapped up in the pilot, and littering the plot with enough holes to send even a more polished vehicle careening off track.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
Following the flyby, 2026 GD will continue along a 644-day elliptical path that takes it beyond the orbit of Mars before careening back towards the sun.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
When third-base umpire David Rackley gave Vitello the heave, the Giants weren’t careening toward a series loss.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026
Sri Lanka was careening from crisis to crisis, then came the Mideast war.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 29 May 2026
Since then, Republicans in more states have been careening closer to authoritarianism, adopting laws that undermine fair elections and suppress opposing viewpoints.
—Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Hunter Feduccia had an infield single, and then took second when Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson rushed a throw after fielding the grounder and sent it careening into first-base foul territory and into the Rays' bullpen.
—CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Hunter Feduccia had an infield single, and then took second when Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson rushed a throw after fielding the grounder and sent it careening into first-base foul territory and into the Rays’ bullpen.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
The first three episodes are a disaster, taking 90 minutes to establish a premise that needs to be wrapped up in the pilot, and littering the plot with enough holes to send even a more polished vehicle careening off track.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
Following the flyby, 2026 GD will continue along a 644-day elliptical path that takes it beyond the orbit of Mars before careening back towards the sun.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
When third-base umpire David Rackley gave Vitello the heave, the Giants weren’t careening toward a series loss.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careening
Verb
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These are some of the heaviest grooves that Seefeel have created in ages, channeling lurching currents through intricate chains of dub delay.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
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Another neighbor recalled an elevator lurching between floors.—
Elle McLogan,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cheng likes to build muni bond ladders, which means staggering the maturity dates of multiple bonds.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
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Cleaning can be an overwhelming task, so consider staggering your projects.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Another tragedy struck in 2012, when a neighbor walking to church was hit and killed by a speeding driver on the corner of their block.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
9 Dec. 2025
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And from those fleeting moments to much larger efforts involved for, say a spectacular crash or changing the appearance of speeding automobiles, Tudhope is thinking about his responsibility to the audience to get things right — particularly the Formula 1 fans in the crowd.—
Sarah Rodman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
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To secure his nomination, Blanche would need to convince any swaying Republicans on the Judiciary Committee to get in his corner.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2026
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The possibility of participants betting on their games — and potentially swaying outcomes — was too integral to the integrity of college sports to earn leniency.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
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But Harris’ version takes the audience deeper into their lives, weaving in characters with their own plots in the present day and subtly changing the ways in which Sam, Charlie, and Percy’s story plays out.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
11 June 2026
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This intricate style involves sectioning the hair into precise, straight lines and weaving it tightly to create neat, narrow braids.—
Omenaa Boakye,
InStyle,
9 June 2026
Verb
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No rest for the weary (or, in her case, the never-worn), Maxine straightens her unblemished aqua blue attire, hustles her heeled feet over to the receiver, and picks up a fresh piece of gossip — gossip that sends her scurrying back out on her next errand.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 Nov. 2025
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Some also hurled several glass containers filled with a blue substance, which sent event attendees scurrying toward the entrance to the hall.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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On Saturday night, the TikTokker showed up solo to Nylon magazine’s fab party on the beach that featured a surprise concert by Ellie Goulding, who was rocking a baby bump.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
8 Dec. 2025
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After all, neckwear is one of relatively limited opportunities to play with color and pattern, albeit with guardrails that enable even the most conservative of dressers to feel comfortable rocking whimsical ties.—
Naomi Rougeau,
Robb Report,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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For years, Democratic state officials saw little urgency in hurrying the process, prioritizing accuracy and voter participation over speed in determining results.—
Russell Berman,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
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Navigating crowds of busy, hurrying people – including children and the elderly – without any accidents or even incidents.—
John Koetsier,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Careening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careening. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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