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 And as rain departs Friday, a rush of north wind will bring the temperatures back to normal as the atmosphere stabilizes. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Paramount+ head of originals Jane Wiseman is departing the streamer as the post-merger combination of it and HBO Max takes shape. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026 Chiang departs amid rumors that Xbox is preparing more layoffs this month, in November, and January. — Tom Warren, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026 Halo hasn’t been the same since original developer Bungie — now owned by Sony and working on Destiny and Marathon — departed, leaving 343 Industries (now Halo Studios) to guide the franchise. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • Shortly after, a heavyset man wearing gray sweats, white socks and black sandals and a black hooded sweatershirt exits the passenger-side door.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Saquon Barkley missed the previous two games because of a hamstring injury before exiting Monday's loss after just nine snaps with a back injury.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Kate Whiteman, the woman who first filed a lawsuit against the men, died in late 2025 at age 45 in Australia.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Rent played its first preview off-Broadway, at the New York Theatre Workshop, on January 25, 1996—the same day that Jonathan Larson, its 35-year-old composer and librettist, died suddenly at his home in Manhattan.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Those offseason moves, combined with the injuries, have withered the depth that had allowed Presti to be patient in trade negotiations during previous seasons, without feeling a need to make splashy midseason acquisitions.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026
  • But Florida has decisively moved beyond an educational system dominated by a single operator — the school district — and toward a new construct where multiple operators provide choices for families.
    — Thibaut Delloue, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In the film, Carrie impales Margaret (Piper Laurie) with flying kitchen knives, crucified within a door frame, before perishing herself.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Eons ago a star up to 30 times the mass of our sun collapsed and perished, forming a black hole.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Since then, the Buffaloes have gone 18-26, including a 9-4 effort from a 2024 roster that including his son Shedeur Sanders, who is now with the Cleveland Browns, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Pat Dowell, 3rd, and others have called the session for Monday to have the council clarify that the $75 million will go toward the city’s pensions now.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Enrollment has fallen, empty seats cost money, and difficult choices are unavoidable.
    — Tim Lonergan, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The 6% lead for the No side falls outside the poll’s margin of error, which was around 3% according to PPIC.
    — Andrew Graham October 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In fact, there is growing concern the current drought will only get worse.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Mbow Dem got the ball near the right corner of the box, shook Miami right back Gonzalo Lujan before taking a few dribbles to his left and rifling a shot into the left corner of the goal.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • To date, it is estimated that some 400,000 people have already succumbed to starvation because of the drought and the fighting.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Hours after the band released The Same Place’s two lead singles in November 2024, the other half of OTC’s central brain trust, Will Cullen Hart, succumbed to a decades-long battle with multiple sclerosis.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster