Definition of departnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb depart contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of depart are deviate, digress, diverge, swerve, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

Where would deviate be a reasonable alternative to depart?

The synonyms deviate and depart are sometimes interchangeable, but deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When could digress be used to replace depart?

While the synonyms digress and depart are close in meaning, digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

How do diverge and depart relate to one another?

Diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions.

after school their paths diverged

When is it sensible to use swerve instead of depart?

The meanings of swerve and depart largely overlap; however, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

When can veer be used instead of depart?

The words veer and depart are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of depart But when Storrie departed his hotel on Tuesday to attend the Saint Laurent Men’s Spring/Summer 2027 show, the power of stan culture erupted into surprising violence. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026 Ulta Beauty departed from the same stretch last summer. Yunus Emre Tozal, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 Around 800,000 of those passengers will be departing from the airport with more than 280,000 originating out of CLT, according to Jeff Perry, chief operating officer at CLT. Dj Simmons june 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2026 Stan and Bud departed and Ed and I began to resign ourselves to putting up the tent again. Marc Terziev, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • The Islander will exit the show following episode 20 amid fan backlash.
    Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026
  • Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick announced his retirement from international football today, a day after the country exited the World Cup in the group stage.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Last year, around 13,000 of a population of 17,000 elephant seal pups died there in just a few months after being exposed.
    Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2026
  • Daveigh, best known for playing Samara Morgan in The Ring and voicing Lilo in Lilo & Stitch, died at 35, PEOPLE confirmed on Wednesday, June 17.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • This pair is made from organic cotton and spandex, creating a comfortable material that moves with you.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • Gregory said that approach helped convince her to move forward with the project.
    Kenny Choi, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • One camper perished in her cabin.
    Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • Not long after completing Dream Me a Dream, Zimmerman and Marie-Claire Lambert, his wife of 55 years and frequent creative partner, perished in a house fire.
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The Phillies duo followed up their historic night on Saturday in which Schwarber hit three home runs and Harper hit for the cycle, by both going deep against the Mets again.
    CBS News, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • How airlines and airports can do better Maglione and Riccobono both said that training and implementing new technology can go a long way toward improving the flying experience for blind travelers.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Scheffler, who fell nine shots behind with a pair of bogeys at the start, shot 32 on the back nine by chipping in from 65 feet on the 14th for the start of three straight birdies.
    Doug Ferguson, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • Overall homicides in the United States have fallen for four consecutive years, according to FBI data analyzed by the Washington Post.
    Sara-James Ranta, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • The Property Brothers star, 48, got candid about previously letting his work bleed too much into his home life, to the point where his 4-year-old son, Parker, started noticing.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026
  • The small island nation off the western coast of Africa, which is making its debut on soccer’s grandest stage, already held 2010 champion Spain to a 0-0 draw and then came from behind to get a 2-2 result against Uruguay.
    Kristie Rieken, AJC.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Sydney briefly, and understandably, succumbed to the impulse to lash out, something that Carmy has done on more than one occasion while acting as head chef.
    Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene, while Andrew succumbed to his injuries six days later.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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