DEVIATING Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

deviating 1 of 2

adjective

as in indirect

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Dissimilar Words

deviating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of deviate

as in turning

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 deviating

Verb

Practicing deviating from our defaults, no matter how mundane, prepares us to deviate again, even in higher stakes contexts. — Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 The highly disguised initial view of the model undergoing final testing showed the luxury marque deviating away from its traditional upright boxy off-road SUVs into a new territory. — New Atlas, 27 July 2026 Nyathi says she was inspired to write the book after seeing how African men were deviating from traditional open polygamy, to having secret second families, and the negative effects this was having on the women. — Kate Bartlett, NPR, 24 July 2026 And with no hikes priced in by markets, deviating from this strategy seems unlikely. — Sean Conlon,chloe Taylor,justina Lee,tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 22 July 2026 Subaru redesigns its midsize SUV without deviating from winning formula. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 15 July 2026 Her full-length works often feature people, especially women, holding their ground and deviating from societal expectations, which creates dissonance between their internal and external worlds. — Sky Davis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026 Former referee Christina Unkel suggested a second angle — from the sideline — appears to show the ball not deviating in the air. — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 11 July 2026 The May through July numbers are expected to be the highest of the year, according to the Global Port Tracker, deviating from the traditional peak shipping season that historically lasted from August to October. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deviating

Adjective

The return is indirect and the case is harder to make, but skimping here is what causes horizon-one wins to plateau and horizon-three ambitions to collapse.

— Farooque Munshi, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
That said, there is indirect benefit if this year’s breaks set a precedent.

— Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of indirect

Verb

That starts early, with Lily accusing Sam of turning her and Zac into an all-Asian team to compete against the whites.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 July 2026
While these signings rarely generate major headlines immediately, the Dodgers have developed a reputation for turning under-the-radar acquisitions into legitimate prospects.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of turning

Adjective

Filmmakers Sarah Cooper and Conny Fridh began filming Mosley in 2018, a turning point in his long, circuitous career.

— Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026
That circuitous email chain between homeowners and city officials, including an assistant city attorney, illustrates how homeowners have been stonewalled, Lardon said.

— Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026

Definition of circuitous

Verb

Aiyuk began veering away from the team’s rehabilitation protocol soon after the surgery, failing to communicate with the team — a recurrent theme between Aiyuk and the 49ers — and preferring to rehabilitate on his own.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 27 July 2026
No matter the role, Zendaya has turned method dressing into an art form, consistently finding ways to nod to a character without veering into costume territory.

— Amanda Le, InStyle, 23 July 2026

Definition of veering

Adjective

In a roundabout way, Hugging Face CEO and co-founder Clem Delangue called for fewer safety guardrails.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 22 July 2026
Half the fun of this market is visiting the charming community of Kensington, a mini British village with its pub and roundabout.

— John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

Definition of roundabout

Verb

Samsung and Meta’s contrasting results highlighted the diverging fortunes of the companies supplying — and paying for — the AI buildout.

— Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 30 July 2026
Offshore dollar savings and onshore settlement demand are diverging, and the supply chart smears the two together.

— Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of diverging

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“Deviating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deviating. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of deviating

adjective

verb

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