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 United’s first Starlink flight for paying passengers is scheduled to depart on May 15, a 7:35 a.m. Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 13 May 2025 The week before that game, the Rams played the Atlanta Falcons, and then remained in Atlanta for three days before departing for London. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025 Despite the bruises Ventura had after coming out of that bedroom with a soon to depart Diddy, Phillips never actually saw the Bad Boy Records founder strike Ventura. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 May 2025 There is no Android without Samsung — certainly not if China’s leading OEMs are to depart. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for depart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depart
Verb
  • If there is a moment to be seized, it only can be seized by a mix superior to what exited amid embarrassment last month.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
  • Kerry Dryburgh, Chief Human Resource Officer of bp, offered a powerful example of this during our CHRO panel, reflecting on the company’s decision to exit Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
    Eric Mosley, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • About 1,600 people get sick and 260 die each year from listeriosis, according to the CDC.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • Eight-year-old Alanah Phillips and her 4-year-old brother Zayn Phillips died after Chidester drove her car into a child's party at the private Swan Boat Club on April 20, 2024.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Among girls' names, Mia moves into the top 5, knocking out Sophia, which was the No. 1 name for girls from 2011-2013 and had been in the top 5 every year from 2009 except for 2021.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • Twain moved east, and his career took off like a rocket.
    Mary Ann Gwinn, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Published May 1, 1987 The new $240 million Sunshine Skyway bridge opened Thursday with a procession of cars, 2,000 yellow balloons and a memorial bouquet of 35 white carnations, one for each traveler who perished in the 1980 disaster.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025
  • All the fish perished, according to Meredith Hendricks, executive director of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, a nonprofit organization that owns and manages the preserve.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • So now the mystery of high U.S. interest rates makes sense: keep the dollar strong to keep the confetti going and the runaway government spending funded.
    Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Season 2 will see Charles (Danson) going undercover at a college.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Last night, the Rockies were 0-for-7 after falling behind 1-2.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025
  • Without employer pensions or consistent guidance, more of the retirement burden falls squarely on individuals.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 May 2025
  • Shares of the company got a little boost from the interest signaled by the poison pill and gained 3.2 percent to $23.51 in premarket trading on Tuesday.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Micah, then 34, went missing in March 2018, and Baylee, then 20, disappeared in April, per Marie Claire.
    Emily Krauser, People.com, 12 May 2025
  • On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian dissident who, after leaving his home country, had become an opinion columnist for the Post, disappeared while visiting the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul.
    Clare Malone, New Yorker, 12 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depart. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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