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
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Recent Examples of deviates
True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
There’s always a chance for a surprise cameo that deviates from the source material, but Choi Hyun-wook is not currently listed as a Season 2 cast member.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
Any policy that deviates from the central government’s could be seen as politically disloyal.
—Vivian Wang, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
If the system deviates from norms—perhaps because data quality has changed—the team investigates at once.
—Stephen Wunker, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Nickel Boys also deviates from traditional filmic language through the interstitial placement of archival footage.
—Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2025
Admittedly, this column deviates a bit from Improving Investor Behavior, our typical personal finance topic.
—Steve Booren, The Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2025
The Disney performance deviates from the religious overtunes.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
The circular hearth, with its two channels and thick wall lining, deviates from the typical design of cooking fire pits.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
Written communications and account performance reports are especially useful in establishing a pattern of behavior that deviates from fiduciary standards.
—True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
There’s always a chance for a surprise cameo that deviates from the source material, but Choi Hyun-wook is not currently listed as a Season 2 cast member.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
Any policy that deviates from the central government’s could be seen as politically disloyal.
—Vivian Wang, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
If the system deviates from norms—perhaps because data quality has changed—the team investigates at once.
—Stephen Wunker, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Nickel Boys also deviates from traditional filmic language through the interstitial placement of archival footage.
—Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2025
Admittedly, this column deviates a bit from Improving Investor Behavior, our typical personal finance topic.
—Steve Booren, The Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2025
The Disney performance deviates from the religious overtunes.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
The circular hearth, with its two channels and thick wall lining, deviates from the typical design of cooking fire pits.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Deviates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviates. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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