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 Lock your home before departing. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025 On September 24, Judge Smith permanently enjoined DHS from enforcing broad new immigration compliance conditions on a wide range of preparedness grants, ruling the agency had exceeded its statutory authority and failed to justify departing from longstanding grant practices. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025 Farley has managed to woo Wall Street more than his two most recent predecessors — both of whom departed the company after double-digit losses in Ford's stock price. Michael Wayland, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025 The Lake Michigan & Upper Peninsula cruise will depart Milwaukee for the first time on June 12, 2026, with three other departures slated for July and August. Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • The Policy Forum’s analysis found that educators in Wisconsin’s small districts were more likely to exit their jobs, as well as those working in urban districts and districts with mostly low-income students or students of color.
    Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • All across the locker room, guys were eager to flush Seattle’s 38-35 loss to the Bucs and exit the venue.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • About 20 living hostages remain captive in desperate conditions, Israeli officials say, and about 25 more are believed to have died, but their bodies have not been returned to their families.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Craig Hayden, a 77-year-old church member, died trying to help another member of the church, according to a GoFundMe his daughter-in-law posted.
    Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In a positive sign, Nunoo was moving his hands and fingers, according to Sutton.
    Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
  • That includes other immigrants who continue to buy homes to move into or to invest in, even some without legal immigration status.
    Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Almost all 19 of the people who died in the blaze perished in the neighborhood.
    Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
  • At least two others were believed to have been trapped inside the church when the fire started and perished in the flames.
    Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Milwaukee rewarded him with a two-year, $11 million contract in July, and, with Damian Lillard gone, Porter is now the point guard, which was confirmed by Doc Rivers a few weeks ago.
    Stan Son, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • They Chiefs needed just five plays to go 97 yards for the TD.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Zay Flowers, who finished with a receiving line of 5-for-72, fell a yard short of a long TD on a 56-yard gain.
    Michael Salfino, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • City administrator echoes points other municipalities have stated Brown presented a series of slides and data pieces that, among other facts, showed the city has lagged further behind in terms of property revenue increases falling short of 3% inflation on existing services on average.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The goal is to get a congress of 15, with at least eight members coming from Cincinnati's homeless shelters and seven representing people who live outdoors or in temporary housing.
    Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Jonathan Taylor got the three touchdowns but was hardly explosive on a down-to-down basis.
    Michael Salfino, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Dark skies With the fire burning, Blossom of Medstar, noticed the morning's sun disappeared.
    Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Earhart flew The Electra, which disappeared on July 2, 1937, while flying from New Guinea to Howland Island.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on depart

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