detour 1 of 2

as in deviation
a turning away from a course or standard we'll regard this relapse as just a brief detour on your road to recovery from substance abuse

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detour

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to bypass
to avoid by going around we had to detour the construction zone in order to get to the stadium

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2
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction we had to detour for a few miles around the section of highway under construction

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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 detour
Noun
Going straight to the source means your sensitive details don't take unnecessary detours. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025 The magic happens in the detours. Shelley Zalis, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Southbound drivers will be detoured east on Elder Creek Road, south on Bradshaw Road, west on Florin Road and back to southbound South Watt Avenue, the county said. Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Traffic will be detoured through Shepherds Way. Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detour
Noun
  • Even the smallest deviations during assembly can create measurable differences in performance.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
  • There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
    Amanda Luberto, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Mobile check-in allows guests to bypass the lobby and go straight to their rooms using the hotel’s app, if desired.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
  • If platforms don’t support how work actually gets done—like handoffs, lead qualification or follow-up timing—users will bypass them.
    Al Sefati, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Use words, phrases, and approaches that deviate from traditional power-play leadership to cultivate a revolutionary, individualistic leadership style.
    Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The Princess of Wales has rarely deviated from her signature brunette tresses, often styled in a bouncy blowout, since marrying into the royal family in 2011.
    Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Since Levy’s departure, the Lewis family have faced questions about their intentions for the club.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • On Her Hiatus Speaking to her fans on a live stream, Kai was candid about her feelings since her WWE departure.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • When the system’s rigged against you, try to undermine it or circumvent it.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • In response, Russia pivoted towards eastward to China again, signing the Power of Siberia Pipeline, and then accelerating the development of payment systems like Mir and System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS) to circumvent Western financial systems.
    Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Nolthenius hopes that more astronomers – professionals and amateurs – will turn their eyes to the skies to observe Quaoar's occultations.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • In less than six hours, the protest turned violent when police used water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets and then gunfire, killing at least 19 people including children and injuring hundreds of others.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Refrain from entering water that may have electricity in it and avoid walking through floodwaters.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For a locker room that’s been through a lot because the front office swung and missed on the worst quarterback trade in NFL history.
    Zac Jackson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Busta also received an assist from Papoose and Joyner Lucas, all of them sharing lyrical wordplay and seamless tradeoffs as Busta swung between his trademark dichotomy of rapping to gruff bellowing.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detour. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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