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
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 swerved
But when Bailey ran out into the street, the car swerved to avoid hitting her and struck Kate instead.
—
Max Gao, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
The driver of the vehicle that was hit then swerved, resulting in the car hitting the curb and tree.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
The man swerved to miss a pedestrian who was using the walkway to cross Harlem at Lake Street, Yopchick said.
—Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Yates rushed to the driveway when Ebert allegedly swerved the vehicle toward him during the incident and struck him.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Confrontation Escalates Fetzer said the vehicles swerved toward the cyclists, honked and put their lives in danger.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Fetzer said the cars swerved at them, honked and put the cyclists’ lives in danger.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
The driver swerved into a grass median in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35W, continued through the grass to the bridge at Westport Parkway and drove over the wall onto the road below, Fort Worth police said.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 30, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
In Chicago, Marimar Martinez was accused of ramming her car into a Border Patrol vehicle, despite video evidence suggesting the officer swerved his car into hers; an agent subsequently shot her five times.
—Oriana Van Praag, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Max Gao, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
The driver of the vehicle that was hit then swerved, resulting in the car hitting the curb and tree.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
The man swerved to miss a pedestrian who was using the walkway to cross Harlem at Lake Street, Yopchick said.
—Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Yates rushed to the driveway when Ebert allegedly swerved the vehicle toward him during the incident and struck him.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Confrontation Escalates Fetzer said the vehicles swerved toward the cyclists, honked and put their lives in danger.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Fetzer said the cars swerved at them, honked and put the cyclists’ lives in danger.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
The driver swerved into a grass median in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35W, continued through the grass to the bridge at Westport Parkway and drove over the wall onto the road below, Fort Worth police said.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 30, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
In Chicago, Marimar Martinez was accused of ramming her car into a Border Patrol vehicle, despite video evidence suggesting the officer swerved his car into hers; an agent subsequently shot her five times.
—Oriana Van Praag, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerved
Verb
-
The vehicle then veered to the left and struck the concrete median barrier, according to state police.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
-
His car veered into the wrong lane of traffic as a group of nearly 80 recruits ran along Mills Avenue.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The main kitchen is all sleek wooden cabinetry, with an eat-in banquette curved into the central island.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The usually straight path of light gets curved along the warp, with the degree of curvature dictated by how close to the object of mass the light passes.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Sami’s hair and beard were gray, and his thick eyebrows arched over his tired walnut eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Footage shared on social media by Paraguayan outlet Radio Nanduti captured people screaming as the car deviated off course and flipped multiple times in the air before coming to a stop.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Since then, Davidson hasn’t deviated from his plan.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Despite some initial pushback, he was immediately hooked.—
Sophie Dodd,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Ball, who was on the ground, then reached out with his left hand, hooked Adebayo’s ankle and pulled.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Denver swung on Alabama’s Que Robinson as a developmental prospect in the fourth round last year on sheer upside, and Capehart could be a similar interior fit in this class.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Tomato prices swung wildly in March, jumping 35 cents.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The six-episode podcast series bowed in January.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The ceiling was noticeably bowed, and the floor was partly rotted.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the 24-year-old has offered little to suggest a corner is going to be turned.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
-
When the Fed began raising rates in 2022, the correlation between stocks and bonds turned positive — meaning that bonds weren’t the portfolio ballast investors were expecting.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerved. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
