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
Police said the driver of a gold truck traveling northbound abruptly braked and swerved to avoid a head-on collision with Lacy's Charger.
—
Deena Zaru, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
He was accused of driving recklessly — speeding and passing in a no-passing zone — when the motorist swerved to avoid Lacy and crashed into another vehicle.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Another vehicle then allegedly swerved to avoid the pickup and crossed the center line, crashing head-on with a vehicle containing Herman Hall, 78.
—CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Police said that during the pursuit the suspect tried to run over an officer, ran multiple red lights and swerved into oncoming traffic.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Simoncic was one of two officers deploying tire-deflating devices in the 7200 block of State Avenue when Mitchell swerved, intentionally striking Simoncic, police Chief Karl Oakman previously told reporters.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
As this was happening, cars swerved by, trying not to hit them.
—Laura Kwerel, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
His best friend was a passenger and died after the car Hank was driving swerved off the road.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 25 Aug. 2025
The truck, a gray Chevrolet Silverado, drove off the right shoulder of Cortez Street, hit a guardrail, swerved back across Cortez Street and drove off the left shoulder into the patio area of Ugly Dog Sports Cafe, according to a news release from the Colorado State Patrol.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Deena Zaru, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
He was accused of driving recklessly — speeding and passing in a no-passing zone — when the motorist swerved to avoid Lacy and crashed into another vehicle.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Another vehicle then allegedly swerved to avoid the pickup and crossed the center line, crashing head-on with a vehicle containing Herman Hall, 78.
—CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Police said that during the pursuit the suspect tried to run over an officer, ran multiple red lights and swerved into oncoming traffic.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Simoncic was one of two officers deploying tire-deflating devices in the 7200 block of State Avenue when Mitchell swerved, intentionally striking Simoncic, police Chief Karl Oakman previously told reporters.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
As this was happening, cars swerved by, trying not to hit them.
—Laura Kwerel, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
His best friend was a passenger and died after the car Hank was driving swerved off the road.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 25 Aug. 2025
The truck, a gray Chevrolet Silverado, drove off the right shoulder of Cortez Street, hit a guardrail, swerved back across Cortez Street and drove off the left shoulder into the patio area of Ugly Dog Sports Cafe, according to a news release from the Colorado State Patrol.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerved
Verb
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Indie rock veered away from the more ornate, baroque pocket that Grizzly Bear dominated, with indie rock bands in the late 2010s and early 2020s going more pop, country, or shoegaze.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
10 Oct. 2025
-
As the gold truck veered right, the driver of the Kia Cadenza saw the approaching green charger.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When the light of distant objects passes near another large cosmic object, it is curved and magnified.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
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The seat backs are slightly curved for comfortable lounging, while the black aluminum frame adds a sleek and modern feel to the design.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Upstairs, the loft-style rooms are decked out in designer furniture (specifically, Eames and Bertoia chairs), arched French windows, and polished concrete floors.—
Siobhan Reid,
Vogue,
10 Oct. 2025
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Such ambiguity works to the film’s advantage, as Leonberg focuses on Indy’s face and lets audiences project our own feelings onto the cocked head, the questioning expression, his brows arched in either curiosity or concern.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Using the black nubuck base seen on 1990s looks including the black/red Playoffs and the Aqua colorway, the early 2000s Chrome look deviated from the colorful accents seen on those styles.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
13 Oct. 2025
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The move comes amid ongoing debate about funding for Ohio's public schools after the statehouse deviated from the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan made four years prior with the passage of the 2026-27 state budget in June.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sparked by outside hitter Norah Schweitzer, Westford Academy swept Dual County League opponent Concord-Carlisle, 3-0.—
Kristina Banahan,
Boston Herald,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The Dodgers, swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the regular season series, are poised to reverse that with one more swipe of the broom on Friday night.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Schmidt has hooked kickoffs out of bounds and had an extra point blocked last week.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Plus, its thread-free design prevents claws from getting hooked in the stitching.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ohtani swung through it and struck out swinging at three consecutive pitches.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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Ferrari’s announcement is more evidence that the pendulum has swung swiftly the other way.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Apparently, the immigrant is only visible when bowed by suffering, never when standing on the shoulders of sacrifice.—
Sofía Pereda,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
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Lázaro sat with her head bowed in the middle of the room while those around her put their hands on her shoulders and wished her well one last time.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
Twin Cities,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swerved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerved. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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