1
as in veers
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 curves
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 bends
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
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 swerves
Yet whereas Taxi Driver ends in a sequence of redemptive carnage, First Reformed swerves in its last moments into a scene so ostentatiously at odds with everything coming before that accepting it at face value would seem to mean denying the film up to that point had anything serious to say.
—
Roy Scranton
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
Roy Scranton
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerves
Verb
-
While the series veers more toward the action side of things, stealth is also incredibly important.—
George Yang,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The mortality curves from Gompertz models associated with the three migratory strategies are presented on panel A–C—the death rates m(x) (gray dots) are also presented.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
As the road curves around, the Inland Sea comes into view, its small pool feeding into the ocean through a massive slit in the cliff.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This happens because the material’s own magnetization (usually from electron spin) bends the motion of electrons.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Sep. 2025
-
But Sex and the City bends to no rules!—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Uncut Gems star's ensemble deviates from his signature style, which typically includes oversize T-shirts, hoodies and shorts, as well as stylish sneakers.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The Act’s control over owners and clubs also deviates substantially from American practices and is chilling to investment.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The decision turns less on predicting the next Fed meeting and more on projecting a company’s earning power far into the future.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Maria is a wonderfully textured character, at turns flinty and cold and vivacious and funny, and Maura is adept at embodying all sides to this woman.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Create subheadlines that make one clear promise Your subheadline does the heavy lifting after your headline hooks them.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
To develop it, the research team incorporated mushroom heads or hooks directly into the building components.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Why Regeneration, Not Reinvention Whenever HR is critiqued, the pendulum swings toward reinvention.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
With Venice the fall’s first awards season launchpad, eyes will be keenly trained on how the jury swings tonight.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swerves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerves. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share