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
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
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On the walk back to the inn, Henry veered off the trail to pick up a fallen branch, gray and forked with one crisp leaf clinging obstinately on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Roblero-Perez was driving a 2016 Honda Accord eastbound when the vehicle veered off the road and struck two boys who were riding bicycles on the sidewalk.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One is rounded for liquid ingredients, and the other is curved as a scooper for dry ingredients.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Arbat might even derive from gorbat (hunchback), because the road curved in and around streams.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 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
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But, for all the sensationalism that has attended the reporting of this story, nothing that Orbán said privately deviated from his public positions.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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There’s been times when he’s deviated from such plans in the past for that reason.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The still-visible good bones proved tempting for Megan, who grew up in a real estate-development family, but the home’s backstory was what really hooked her.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Bo Bichette hooked a two-out double inside the left-field line, ending Yamamoto’s streak of 20 consecutive batters retired.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Most recently, Verbeek swung a deadline deal for longtime Washington defenseman John Carlson, who has scored 12 points in 13 games during Anaheim’s playoff charge.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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Gold prices have swung between historic highs and lower levels since late 2025, as geopolitical tensions and trade concerns have prompted some investors toward the safe-haven asset.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The actors bowed, looking relieved.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Konig closed his eyes and bowed his head when the verdict was read.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Royal Bahamas Police Force said last week that search and rescue operations had turned into search and recovery.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The soldiers had little time to prepare; the retreat turned into a rout.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerved. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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