1
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
the car swerved sharply to avoid the squirrel in the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curved
to turn away from a straight line or course
the bike path gently swerves to the right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arched
to cause to turn away from a straight line
a dog dashed out in front of me and made me swerve my bike to one side of the bike path
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deviated
to change one's course or direction
the hurricane had been following the coastline before it swerved and headed inland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swerved
Bored by the beige that blankets most homes in the area, Everett swerved in the opposite direction.
—
Julie Vadnal, Architectural Digest, 18 Mar. 2026
Small said preliminary information indicates that the man in the GMC was traveling westbound on Lancaster Avenue and, for some reason, swerved into the eastbound lanes of the roadway, striking the trolley traveling eastbound head-on.
—Matt Cavallo, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Shortly after administering Narcan to a DUI suspect experiencing a possible overdose, CHP Officer Miguel Cano started to feel unwell, swerved his patrol car into a tree and was killed.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The Panthers forward, 28, dedicated his gold medal to Gaudreau, a Columbus Blue Jackets and fellow national team player, who died cycling in August 2024 when a drunk driver allegedly swerved and slammed into his bicycle.
—Chris Kudialis, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
Moments later, a tractor trailer whose 52-year-old driver had swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle slammed into the passenger side of the Astimbay’s Camry.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
But Land swerved hard to the right.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
The car that Negron was driving swerved to the right and hit the back of a Jeep Grand Cherokee, then spun across the center lane and slammed into a Ford F-150 in the right lane, Trooper Ilias Bistolas reported.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Feb. 2026
The ball dipped and swerved, beating the despairing dive of goalkeeper David Raya before flying in off the post.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Julie Vadnal, Architectural Digest, 18 Mar. 2026
Small said preliminary information indicates that the man in the GMC was traveling westbound on Lancaster Avenue and, for some reason, swerved into the eastbound lanes of the roadway, striking the trolley traveling eastbound head-on.
—Matt Cavallo, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Shortly after administering Narcan to a DUI suspect experiencing a possible overdose, CHP Officer Miguel Cano started to feel unwell, swerved his patrol car into a tree and was killed.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The Panthers forward, 28, dedicated his gold medal to Gaudreau, a Columbus Blue Jackets and fellow national team player, who died cycling in August 2024 when a drunk driver allegedly swerved and slammed into his bicycle.
—Chris Kudialis, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
Moments later, a tractor trailer whose 52-year-old driver had swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle slammed into the passenger side of the Astimbay’s Camry.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
But Land swerved hard to the right.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
The car that Negron was driving swerved to the right and hit the back of a Jeep Grand Cherokee, then spun across the center lane and slammed into a Ford F-150 in the right lane, Trooper Ilias Bistolas reported.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Feb. 2026
The ball dipped and swerved, beating the despairing dive of goalkeeper David Raya before flying in off the post.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerved
Verb
-
State police believe a Toyota GR86 was traveling east on Route 44 when the car failed to negotiate a curve, veered off the roadway and struck a tree.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
-
According to the California Highway Patrol, a Honda Accord was heading south on Cole Grade when the driver of a Nissan Frontier heading north veered his truck to the left for an unknown reason and crossed into the southbound lane.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The rink was a unique part of history, Kathy said, one of the world’s last remaining rotunda rinks, where the wooden planks on the ground are curved.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
-
For this face shape, professional hairstylist Nico Malabett says to play with your naturally sharp bone structure by combining straight-across or curved, rounded blunt bangs with sleek straight hair.—
Nicole Catanese,
InStyle,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Engage your core and keep your back relatively flat (not arched or rounded).—
Jenny McCoy,
Outside,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Back on the highway, the rearview mirror showed the clouds had lifted, the waters were still, and a rainbow had arched across the sky.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But during the first week of the Iran war, Hegseth’s press briefings deviated from the measured tone expected from high-ranking military officials.—
Casey Ryan Kelly,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
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The nearly 16 ½-hour flight that Mikhaell, Patel, and others were on from Dubai to Chicago deviated from its normal route to avoid the ongoing war.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The recent release of the TAG Heuer Carrera Seafarer hooked me immediately (pun intended).—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
16 Mar. 2026
-
From her earliest projects, she was hooked and curious about production and design.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 28-year-old swung a hot bat before his injury and is 4 for 5 with the pair of extra base hits since his return.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The door swung open anyway, like something out of a haunted house.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The mother of three – who published a children’s book on grief after her husband’s death – bowed her head when the guilty verdict was read aloud in court.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
17 Mar. 2026
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Tie-top curtains attach to the rod with fabric ties that are knotted or bowed at the top, giving them a relaxed, decorative look.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mutiny includes no college grads in dead-end jobs whose grievances have turned them toward MAGA rather than union activism—young men and women recruited by Turning Point USA while still in college.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
-
When Leu, early this year, turned all but three acres of his property over to the city for a park the Tabebuia fell under municipal ownership.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerved. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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