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 Isiah Pacheco departed Kansas City for the Detroit Lions, and 31-year-old Kareem Hunt is still a free agent. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026 Trump was secretly shuttled off an Air Force One jet and taken to a smaller, Air Force Boeing C-32A plane via a catering truck just before departing Ankara, Turkey, on July 8 multiple outlets reported. Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 James recently departed the Los Angeles Lakers for a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026 Because of the delay, however, a different aircraft was brought in so the waiting passengers in Phoenix could depart. Sarah Ploss, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • Both Kpler and Windward showed around five ships – total – exited the Strait of Hormuz on the day Wright said 20 million barrels flowed out of the Arab gulf region.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • At least one ship entered using the Iranian route, and a small tanker laden with Iranian fuel oil exited, data showed.
    August 17, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The siblings inherited the Lakers through the Buss Family Trust after their father died in 2013, though their ties to the organization extended well beyond ownership.
    Law Murray, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Fedorov is right to say ideals should not die in warfare, or why else fight?
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The animation is truly ugly, the characters moving at the framerate of a PowerPoint and looking less like the animals they’re supposed to be than weird hybrid troll creatures.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Instead of dealing with rental cars or busy trailheads, travelers just want to step out their front door, lace up and move.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Before the service began, a worshiper read aloud the names of some 200 parishioners who perished.
    Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • And since the gun-toting librarian who would go on to save the remaining Platts at a vital moment was among the neighbors rescued from this second teleportation, does this mean the children perish too?
    Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But Vicki immediately goes past Meredith Marks (disengaging) to Amanda Frances (opening her laptop and working), even as the others try to earn their paychecks by poking at her.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The search is underway for a person who went missing while jet skiing off the Long Beach coast on Sunday night.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • When night falls, another show begins with a dedicated corner of the estate designed for stargazing.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Zinc ions enter the electrode first at higher voltages, while much smaller protons are stored later as the voltage falls.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Side effects were similar to other vaccines that people typically get for other diseases, Healy noted.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Lions lead back is sure to get as many or more touches this year with David Montgomery gone, and Detroit’s offense will score points.
    Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Once the veteran players and most of the top seeds vanished from the Canadian Open, succumbing to injury and upset, the stakes of the tournament in Montreal took on a new edge.
    Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In the film, Bourdain doesn’t succumb as deeply to drugs and other bad habits that the chef owned up to in his writing.
    Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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