1
as in veering
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 curving
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 bending
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 deviating
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 swerving
The genre-swerving approach mirrored the spirit of Cheetos® Flamin’ Hot® Dill Pickle — an unexpected pairing that delivers something spicy.
—
Walaa Elsiddig, Billboard, 17 Mar. 2026
With SkyCal overhead, the driver was seen swerving around other cars and speeding through red lights as authorities followed close behind.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
The charges stem from a March 2025 incident that began when another motorist contacted police to report that LaPlaca’s vehicle was swerving across the centerline and nearly striking oncoming vehicles, according to the prosecutor’s office.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
While driving the five miles home, she was recorded tailgating other vehicles, swerving off the road and crossing over into the on-coming lane, according to the Daily Mail.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
The video, which was obtained and published by The Daily Mail in October, sees her swerving on the road after a night out at Red-O restaurant in Thousand Oaks.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
According to the report, officers were flagged down by an unknown civilian who told them a white truck was swerving in and out of traffic and that the driver might be drunk.
—arkansasonline.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Szoboszlai opened the scoring on 74 minutes with a swerving free kick that kissed the inside of the post and left Gianluigi Donnarumma rooted to the spot.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The woman driving a Toyota Prius hit the bicyclist shortly after noon and then continued for another block before swerving into the bakery section of a 99 Ranch Market and then coming to a stop, trapping several people underneath the vehicle, police and fire officials said.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Walaa Elsiddig, Billboard, 17 Mar. 2026
With SkyCal overhead, the driver was seen swerving around other cars and speeding through red lights as authorities followed close behind.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
The charges stem from a March 2025 incident that began when another motorist contacted police to report that LaPlaca’s vehicle was swerving across the centerline and nearly striking oncoming vehicles, according to the prosecutor’s office.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
While driving the five miles home, she was recorded tailgating other vehicles, swerving off the road and crossing over into the on-coming lane, according to the Daily Mail.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
The video, which was obtained and published by The Daily Mail in October, sees her swerving on the road after a night out at Red-O restaurant in Thousand Oaks.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
According to the report, officers were flagged down by an unknown civilian who told them a white truck was swerving in and out of traffic and that the driver might be drunk.
—arkansasonline.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Szoboszlai opened the scoring on 74 minutes with a swerving free kick that kissed the inside of the post and left Gianluigi Donnarumma rooted to the spot.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The woman driving a Toyota Prius hit the bicyclist shortly after noon and then continued for another block before swerving into the bakery section of a 99 Ranch Market and then coming to a stop, trapping several people underneath the vehicle, police and fire officials said.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerving
Verb
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The bed suits Alpert’s contemporary style without veering too minimalistic.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
13 Mar. 2026
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That’s a strong hook, but Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke is just getting started with an erotic political tragicomedy that, like a Roomba, is forever veering off in unexpected directions.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The changes will close much of the park, including the Greek Theater, Central Promenade, and South Plaza of Civic Center, where big festivals often set up stages and vendors line the curving sidewalks.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
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The sculptural creation hung from her neck like a necklace, before curving over her chest.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Corridor 109 is also home to a tandem cocktail bar, Bar 109, which debuted in 2025 and serves genre-bending cocktails, plus bites such as Wagyu hot dogs.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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After the shooting, Heyward dropped the gun — accidentally shooting herself in the right foot while bending down to pick it up — then walked to the back of the car and removed the license plate, placed it inside, and sped off, deputies say.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It’s suddenly seemed like deviating from the plan in the name of competing for the Stars and Stripes was a real possibility.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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On the flip side, deviating from perfection—not landing the lead in a school play or getting hormonal acne—registers as a personal humiliation rather than an inevitable part of growing up and being human.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The permanent exhibit includes a full-scale replica of the Nihonbashi Bridge, an arching wooden structure that once joined the five roads to Edo at the gate to the capital.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
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Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano was putting on a spectacular show Tuesday evening, with its latest eruptive episode producing arching bands of red lava higher than some skyscrapers.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When prairie goes under the plow, most of the organic matter disappears, turning living water‑holding, nutrient‑rich soil into mineral dust.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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That might look like turning a profit for the first time, or seeing how their product or service changes the lives of customers.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Greer was assessed a hooking minor, an interference major and a game misconduct.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Soto scored on Guerrero’s double in a four-run fourth, hooking an arm around catcher Dong Won Park with a head-first slide.—
Kristie Rieken,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swerving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerving. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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