1
as in lurches
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 staggers
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 scurries
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 careens
Delta Aurigid meteors appear each year as Earth careens through a debris trail left by an unknown comet.
—
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
As their season careens to a close this week, with a 70-87 record going into Wednesday night, a last-place finish assured and the only record within reach being that for strikeouts in a season by the offense, contention seems as far away as it’s ever been.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
The up-and-comer goes all in as the film careens toward its gleefully gory finale, proving her scream queen bona fides with a commanding, vanity-free performance.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Their car careens off the road, hits a rock and dumps them into a river.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 8 Aug. 2025
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
As their season careens to a close this week, with a 70-87 record going into Wednesday night, a last-place finish assured and the only record within reach being that for strikeouts in a season by the offense, contention seems as far away as it’s ever been.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
The up-and-comer goes all in as the film careens toward its gleefully gory finale, proving her scream queen bona fides with a commanding, vanity-free performance.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Their car careens off the road, hits a rock and dumps them into a river.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careens
Verb
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But as the shutdown lurches through its fifth week, and legislators direct blame at each other, food pantries across the Kansas City area are left to grapple with the fallout.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
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Despite that notable change, watching One Battle After Another is much like the experience of reading Pynchon, who lurches from high comedy to stomach-turning naturalism and punctuates plot-heavy sequences with little grace notes of character portraiture.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The logistical feat those intrepid women accomplished staggers the mind of any contemporary author.—
Adrian Miller,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
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For his part, Gonzalez staggers outside and falls to his knees.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The older dog is shown marching along, while the puppy scurries along, attempting to match its pace.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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In some versions of the tale, the wolf scurries off to the forest while the three pigs live happily ever after in humble homesteads of their choice.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Narrative warfare sways public sentiment long before a bullet is fired.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Oct. 2025
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The final shot sees Tom gazing out the window as a curtain gently sways in the warm breeze.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Directed by Kewsong Lee Artistic Director Lear deBessonet (Once Upon a Mattress, Into the Woods), the musical weaves fictional narratives with real historical figures and events.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Gran Vilaya Trek weaves a tapestry of natural and cultural wonders, winding through more than 30 miles of ancient cloud forests and pre-Incan archaeological remains.—
Ally Jaksen,
Outside,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Its greatest — and most realistic — role is as a legal safety net for when the world inevitably speeds past that limit.—
Sophie Yeo,
The Dial,
4 Nov. 2025
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So, Don handles the electric clippers in the backseat while Teddy speeds away from the crime scene.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Adapted from the first book in Herron's Zoë Boehm series, Down Cemetery Road follows Sarah Trafford (Wilson), a woman who becomes obsessed with the sudden disappearance of her young neighbor after a house explosion rocks their neighborhood.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
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Bethenny Frankel rocks a baby blue dress at the RoC Skincare Lip Volumizer Pop Up Event in Los Angeles.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The third-year running back was in the midst of a quiet season, getting just three rushes for six yards across three games.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Like all sugar rushes, the high fades fast and you’re left with a stomachache.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Careens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careens. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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