deviate 1 of 3

deviate

2 of 3

noun

deviate

3 of 3

verb

as in to turn
to change one's course or direction sailors forced to deviate from their course in order to avoid the storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deviate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deviate are depart, digress, diverge, swerve, and veer. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

When is it sensible to use depart instead of deviate?

Although the words depart and deviate have much in common, depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When is digress a more appropriate choice than deviate?

While the synonyms digress and deviate 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, in the sense of deviate?

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 can swerve be used instead of deviate?

The words swerve and deviate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

When might veer be a better fit than deviate?

In some situations, the words veer and deviate are roughly equivalent. However, 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 deviate
Adjective
Her pitch was simple: Homosexuality is a sin, and if homosexuals were given carte blanche to glamorize their ‘deviate lifestyle’ in Miami-area classrooms, the American family would be destroyed and the American way of life would disappear. Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025 Aggravating circumstances: Rape/criminal deviate conduct, on probation or parole, mutilation/torture. Tim Evans, Indianapolis Star, 31 Jan. 2014
Noun
The map shows how far the night skies in different parts of the world deviate from natural sky brightness. Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2016 But despite the stress on the program, Campbell didn’t deviate from his core values — choosing redshirt sophomore quarterback Hunter Dekkers over anyone from the portal. Dallas News, 14 July 2022
Verb
That exemplified her approach, even if her first cookbook sometimes deviated from that mission. Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025 With all your company’s data and operations in a unified platform, your team can monitor patterns and identify incidents that deviate from the norm. Bek Abdullayev, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deviate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviate
Adjective
  • According to the Cleveland Clinic, SADS is a heart condition where an abnormal heart rhythm affects the heart’s electrical system, causing sudden death.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 16 May 2025
  • Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes abnormal inflammation around hair follicles, leading to excessive hair loss.
    Ruth Jessen Hickman, Health, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Just when things are looking up — a haughty British couple leaves this daughter of Oxfordshire a handsome tip — the dinner pervert turns up for his morning coffee.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Outside the courthouse on Friday, Toner’s lawyer made a brief statement about his pervert client.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Trump faced charges related to keeping hundreds of classified documents and refusing to turn them over to the FBI while Biden was under investigation for retaining classified documents.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • The nine-horse sprint turned into a four-horse battle by the final stretch and featured several lead changes.
    Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Multiple sclerosis bends his limbs in sharp, unnatural angles.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025
  • A week ago, TikTok birthed a strange meme, proposing that the big hat that Zendaya wore back in 2014 during the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party contained something unnatural.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • Those who hold advanced degrees in mathematics and analytics, or your favorite degenerate gambler, know any piece of datum is only reliant on the trove of data that occurred previously.
    Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 7 May 2025
  • This 24-hour dive near Uptown is for true degenerates looking to extend the party to unholy hours.
    David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In between the European trips, Biden had swung back to the United States to be at home in Wilmington, Delaware, for the verdict of his son Hunter Biden's guns case trial.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Happ’s oblique bothered him the most when attempting to swing.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Then clear larger leaves and debris with a rake and push broom.
    Kara McGinley, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
  • While simple grooming rakes or brushes are cheaper, more durable and versatile grooming tools will be slightly more expensive.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The stats shared for other countries sometimes diverged dramatically from that pattern.
    Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 1 May 2025
  • Their career paths have diverged and collided at various points over the decades.
    Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviate. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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