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
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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
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The conversation between Kaleel and the man then veers to tidbits about the rap artist, Eminem.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
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Mainstream media and online discussion around OnlyFans often veers into a moral panic, lamenting that the extremity of some creators’ work, in an age when outrage and engagement lead directly to revenue, may have a corrupting influence on audiences.—
Katie Whyatt,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Maggie Daley Park Chicago The quarter-mile outdoor skating ribbon in Maggie Daley Park—with 27,500 feet of ice surface—is a looping path with slight elevation changes that curves past pine trees, a rock climbing wall, and a gorgeous city view.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Midwest Living,
4 Jan. 2026
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The trail brushes past the Bell Rock formation, then curves away from the road and crosses some red rock ledges offering impressive vistas.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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When the weight of the snow severely bends branches, gently sweep away the weighty material.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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Ole Miss chips away Canes defense again bends but doesn’t break.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The director's take deviates from Shelley's in its emphasis on forgiveness.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Jan. 2026
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The Disney performance, which typically runs on weekdays, deviates from the religious overtunes.—
Todd Martens,
Boston Herald,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Note, however, the Vision XL is also essentially one big 10-in-tall block with a completely flat roof, whereas some hardshell RTTs, including the Skycamp, have roof designs with a high point that arches down toward the front and/or back.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Dec. 2025
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The 1,180 foot-tall Chenab Bridge arches over the river of the same name and is the first railway link between Kashmir and the rest of India.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
6 Dec. 2025
Verb
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If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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And in the fall, when the air turns crisp and the fields turn orange, this unassuming little town reminds visitors that sometimes, the most unique places grow from the simplest seeds (pun intended).—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This compact device hooks onto your keychain or purse, and in the event of an emergency, simply pull the plug to activate a blaring alarm and strobe light duo.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Dec. 2025
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Install hooks either on the wall or over the back of the door to keep bags in check.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Forcefully thrust your hips forward to return to standing so that the bell swings up in front of you.—
Greg Presto,
Outside,
7 Jan. 2026
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When the rudder is put over, the stern swings out first, so that if the vessel is in restricted waters, trying to avoid something ahead can result in hitting something behind.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swerves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerves. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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