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
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Recent Examples of careening
But, a renegade locomotive is careening toward Los Angeles in its place.
—
Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Emergency crews on Wednesday morning worked to rescue a woman who was injured after careening off a cliffside in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, authorities said.
—Jasmine Viel, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
History does not record many cases in which a power-mad leader careening toward tyranny suddenly regained his senses and became more moderate.
—David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
In the Minneapolis and Franklin Park shootings, the drivers were killed and their vehicles continued careening down public roads before crashing into other cars.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
The camera refocuses to show her SUV careening down the road.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2026
The camera becomes unsteady and points toward the sky and then returns to the street view showing Good’s SUV careening away.
—Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
The camera becomes unsteady and points toward the sky and then returns to the street view showing Good’s SUV careening away.
—Rebecca Santana, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Thinking about the pendulum careening back the other way reminded me of something from an interview about five years ago, as the Chiefs were seeking to repeat after winning their first Super Bowl in 50 years.
—Kansas City Star, 1 Jan. 2026
Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Emergency crews on Wednesday morning worked to rescue a woman who was injured after careening off a cliffside in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, authorities said.
—Jasmine Viel, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
History does not record many cases in which a power-mad leader careening toward tyranny suddenly regained his senses and became more moderate.
—David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
In the Minneapolis and Franklin Park shootings, the drivers were killed and their vehicles continued careening down public roads before crashing into other cars.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
The camera refocuses to show her SUV careening down the road.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2026
The camera becomes unsteady and points toward the sky and then returns to the street view showing Good’s SUV careening away.
—Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
The camera becomes unsteady and points toward the sky and then returns to the street view showing Good’s SUV careening away.
—Rebecca Santana, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Thinking about the pendulum careening back the other way reminded me of something from an interview about five years ago, as the Chiefs were seeking to repeat after winning their first Super Bowl in 50 years.
—Kansas City Star, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careening
Verb
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Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
13 Jan. 2026
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The midterm blue wave backlash is gathering, with the generic ballot lurching in the Democrats' favor and Trump’s popularity cratering.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
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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To get through the season and the playoffs, staggering the minutes of Green and Horford is logical, even with Quintin Post picking up some center minutes.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Erik Duran, 38, was found guilty in the August 2023 death of Eric Duprey, who was speeding away from undercover police along a sidewalk in the Bronx after allegedly being busted for selling them $20 worth of cocaine, trial testimony revealed, the New York Post reported.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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The discussion included the city’s restoration of utilities in record time, the simplification and speeding up of permitting, and the active construction of nearly 500 homes in the city, Bass said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The budding photographer started bringing a camera with him on his underwater adventures to document his dives, with imagery posted on social media sharing sea species such as leopard sharks and swaying kelp forests that dance with the ebb of the ocean.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
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Imagine swaying to Latin rhythms, a taco in one hand, your partner’s hand in the other.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The company is in the process of translating its catalog, using AI to analyze the colors, layers and weaving patterns of previous design files.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Feb. 2026
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And now, the Princess of Wales has made a trip to Melin Tregwynt, a historic woollen mill on the Pembrokeshire coast, known mostly for weaving traditional Welsh double-cloth designs.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Crushed like a scurrying cucaracha on the kitchen floor.—
Greg Cote
January 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
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Age has brought thoughts of conservatism scurrying into the back of his mind.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mia Goth and Charli XCX, for example, have been rocking the look thanks to celebrity makeup artist Nina Park who imparted a soft-focus finish via blurred lips, diffused blush, filter-like concealers.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2026
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Afterwards, Mero slips on a puffer coat and the sort of shiesty Max B has been rocking and sinks into one of the cozy couches in the studio, dozing off a little.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Meza Gonzalez and David Christian, one of her attorneys, refused to answer questions from reporters about the plea agreement, hurrying down a flight of stairs at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center.—
Megan Rodriguez,
San Antonio Express-News,
27 Jan. 2026
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But one weekend in November, people who would typically be hurrying by, staring down at their phones, stopped.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Careening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careening. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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