detour 1 of 2

Definition of detournext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Saturday drivers across Sacramento navigated detours through the heart of the city while crews completed critical work on the Business 80 bridge over the American River. Conor McGill, CBS News, 31 May 2026 Evan mapped out a paved detour to our campsite called Hog Island, which in hindsight would have been a wise move. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026
Verb
PennDOT will be hosting a virtual public meeting to lay out the plan that will detour 100,000 drivers per day in each direction as the massive bridge replacement project takes place outside of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel along Interstate 376. John Shumway, CBS News, 13 May 2026 Westbound travelers will have to detour at Byron Highway and use left turns on Brentwood Boulevard and Sellers Avenue, a right on Payne Avenue and a left on Walnut Boulevard to get back onto Vasco Road, which turns into Highway 4. Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for detour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detour
Noun
  • Epitaxial growth of SiC on wafers requires temperatures above 2732°F and precise precursor chemistry; even small process deviations can generate micropipe defects that render devices inoperable.
    Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
  • The application calls for neighborhood development and site development permits for work within the public right of way fronting 1595 Coast Walk, including deviations to allow a new driveway and for two existing guest parking spaces to remain.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Specialist herbivores that feed on specific plants likely evolve metabolic countermeasures to detoxify or otherwise bypass chemical defenses of their hosts.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
  • City leaders have often bypassed the provisions of past taxes to continue paying worker salaries.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Did the driver deviate from their route?
    Toni Pisano, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
  • But so far, Raman, who has aligned herself with the DSA on issues such as renter protections but deviated on police spending, is struggling to unite the organization.
    National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • The liveried doormen hop to it like tree frogs, as if your every arrival and departure were a matter of the utmost urgency and significance.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Savage, though, was particularly emotional when discussing the eventual departure of shortstop and back-to-back Big Ten player of the year Roch Cholowsky, who is widely expected to be a first-round pick.
    Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • The House's effort to circumvent leadership on support for Ukraine comes as bipartisan legislation in the Senate to impose new economic sanctions on Russia has languished for more than a year, with senators waiting for a green light from the White House.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 5 June 2026
  • Some attorneys and advocates say that Florida’s family courts are essentially stripping parents of their rights to their children without any oversight, circumventing state law.
    Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • This ability to turn humans into readers is the unique magic of children’s books—yes, even the books that adults might not love.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
  • With one play, Tre Phelps turned a quiet Athens Regional final on its head.
    Sarah Spencer, AJC.com, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Residents and visitors were urged to avoid the area as the investigation continues.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
  • Residents and festivalgoers were urged to avoid the area and expect a significant law enforcement presence as officers continue their search and investigators work to determine what led to the shooting.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • Arraez was then picked off and the inning was over without Schmitt getting a chance to swing the bat.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
  • Given Waters’ stature as a congressional representative for 35 years, Ali said, her slate mailers can swing outcomes.
    Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detour. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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