as in perverts
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard
a sleazy bar that seemed to be an informal clubhouse for deviates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 deviates
Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
The director's take deviates from Shelley's in its emphasis on forgiveness.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Bernthal tells me that Guirgis’s take on Dog Day Afternoon deviates from the film in key ways, such as fleshing out some of the more minor characters, including the bank staff, and going deeper on Sonny and Sal’s dynamic.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Panthers goaltending coach Robb Tallas maps out the goaltenders’ schedule for the season well in advance and rarely deviates from that plan.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
The episode delivers a surprising twist involving Thalia that deviates from Rick Riordan’s original mythology and sets up a grim reality for Percy as a looming war against Kronos approaches in Season 3.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Jeremiah Brent’s iteration for Crate & Barrel deviates from tradition with a version that allows all the light to pass through.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
But then the dream deviates, and takes me to the set of Gilligan’s Island, where Bob Denver, who originally played the part of Gilligan, has been replaced by a bearded intellectual who looks like Karl Marx combined with Cesar Romero, who played the Joker on the original Batman TV show.
—Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
The director's take deviates from Shelley's in its emphasis on forgiveness.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Bernthal tells me that Guirgis’s take on Dog Day Afternoon deviates from the film in key ways, such as fleshing out some of the more minor characters, including the bank staff, and going deeper on Sonny and Sal’s dynamic.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Panthers goaltending coach Robb Tallas maps out the goaltenders’ schedule for the season well in advance and rarely deviates from that plan.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
The episode delivers a surprising twist involving Thalia that deviates from Rick Riordan’s original mythology and sets up a grim reality for Percy as a looming war against Kronos approaches in Season 3.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Jeremiah Brent’s iteration for Crate & Barrel deviates from tradition with a version that allows all the light to pass through.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviates
Noun
-
Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Also, what many now interpret as Kubrick’s exposé of elite perverts was, in fact, mostly Schnitzler’s doing.—
Lane Brown,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror classic, which won the Academy Award for visual effects and spawned an enduring franchise, turns the commercial towing vessel Nostromo — essentially a tug-hauling cargo ship — into something claustrophobic and unforgiving.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
For five days, toxic fumes from a zinc smelter – a plant that turns zinc ore into pure zinc metal – poured out of the factory’s stacks, became trapped in the valley and thus blanketed Donora.—
Ella Whitman,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The product exploded, generating trillions and minting a new class of crypto degenerates who were willing to take massive risks that, occasionally, resulted in millions.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
-
In all vertebrates, the thymus degenerates very rapidly with age.—
Mallory Locklear,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Loznitsa’s methods are grim and exacting, but the effect is never monotonous; there are shivers of Hitchcockian suspense, plus a whispery cackle of satire that veers toward the Kafkaesque.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
True to its name, the Butter Melt Bronzer glides on like butter and melts seamlessly into skin, delivering a silky-smooth finish that never veers cakey, muddy, or heavy on dry skin.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The West Side’s 16th District, which swings from Cicero, Lyons and Riverside up through Melrose Park, features a three-way race steeped in tangled histories.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The next big weather maker swings through the area on Tuesday, causing the chance of severe weather.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Where the story diverges is the way New Edition combined hip-hop, R&B, and old-school doo-wop to create new jack swing.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
-
This, fundamentally, is where our understanding of body and dance diverges from Rodin’s.—
Li Qi,
Artforum,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deviates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviates. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
