detours 1 of 2

Definition of detoursnext
plural of detour
as in deviations
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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detours

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of detour
1
2
as in deviates
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 detours
Noun
The result was broadly anticipated, and the reason is simple, as Buckley’s campaign has looked like the closest thing to a straight line in a season full of detours. Clayton Davis, Variety, 22 Feb. 2026 At Hotel Lorenzo, managing partner Justin Burton said confusing detours and signage are creating frustration for visitors. Nicole Nielsen, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026 In that spirit, the presidency — despite policy detours, rhetorical bucking and social-media stampedes — remains a powerful instrument of national motion. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026 The alert system puts in place precautions including around-the-clock maintenance of the roadway and possible closure and detours around the Grapevine. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026 Beyond cars, the issue also takes a few worthwhile detours. John Vorwald, Robb Report, 15 Feb. 2026 If a plan changes, your upbeat flexibility is equipped to turn detours into discoveries. Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026 The result is detours, delays, and huge increases in shipping and insurance costs, along with disruptions to the world's vital supply lines. David Szondy february 15, New Atlas, 15 Feb. 2026 Like Wilson’s show, The History of Concrete is packed with gleeful detours that take him to, among many destinations, a wax museum in Italy and a bubble-gum-removal company in New York. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detours
Noun
  • There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 16 Feb. 2026
  • But the developer would have to go to the Advisory Plan Commission if the final plan has any deviations from the PUD.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In this near-field regime, the light bypasses the diffraction limit and probes nanoscale features.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Garcia’s finest new dishes underscore his talent for complexity that bypasses showiness.
    Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The duo particularly split over the showrunner’s plan for season three which deviates from Martin’s source material in ways that Condal has suggested were pragmatic and necessary.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
  • This nail look deviates from the classic saccharine pinks associated with Valentine's Day and uses a cool-toned berry shade.
    Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Two departures are scheduled at 17 hours and 25 minutes, and one is scheduled at 17 hours and 40 minutes.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Cast departures are also possible, sources said.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Icy Tones Erica Volkmer, the founder of Evenson Design in Austin, Texas, avoids colors with icy tones, such as cool blues and ash tones grays, in the kitchen.
    Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The end of Duke-Michigan will also overlap with NBC’s nightly Primetime in Milan presentation, though the hoops game avoids any heavy-hitting events with bobsled slotted for the first 30 minutes.
    Molly Geary, Sportico.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Rai, who turns 31 on March 3, has eight wins since turning pro in 2012, including the Wyndham Championship in 2024.
    Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • In recent years, the club has struggled out the gates before warming up as the weather turns.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Moscow is at the mercy of an American president who circumvents traditional channels of power and obliterates the constraints that once regulated their use.
    Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Today’s staged raid reinforces our conviction that this investigation distorts French law, circumvents due process, and endangers free speech.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • One thing that has always bothered me is that the fridge sits in the back left corner of the hall-like kitchen, but the door swings open to the right.
    Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Couvent is cultivating its own scene in the south of France, one that swings more Provence than Cote d’Azur.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detours. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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