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
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 swerving
In one video, her husband can be seen speeding his car at her from behind in a parking lot and swerving to miss her at the last moment.
—
CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Meghan took to social media Thursday, April 2, to share a video of her husband and their son Prince Archie, 6, swerving down the slopes.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Police said Woods at the time was attempting to a pass a pressure cleaner truck, eventually swerving in a bid to avoid a collision.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Authorities said the group’s behavior leading up to the incident was dangerous and escalating, with riders swerving through traffic, approaching moving vehicles and pedestrians, and in some cases intentionally riding at oncoming cars.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Those ubiquitous ride companies have reduced the scourge of drunk drivers swerving on our roads and taking the lives of others.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
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
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
CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Meghan took to social media Thursday, April 2, to share a video of her husband and their son Prince Archie, 6, swerving down the slopes.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Police said Woods at the time was attempting to a pass a pressure cleaner truck, eventually swerving in a bid to avoid a collision.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Authorities said the group’s behavior leading up to the incident was dangerous and escalating, with riders swerving through traffic, approaching moving vehicles and pedestrians, and in some cases intentionally riding at oncoming cars.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Those ubiquitous ride companies have reduced the scourge of drunk drivers swerving on our roads and taking the lives of others.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swerving
Verb
-
The pull-on waistband hits around the belly button, and the slightly wide-leg sweatpant shape feels relaxed without veering into bell-bottom territory.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
8 Apr. 2026
-
While pig butchering operations are veering toward the sophisticated and professional, horrendous abuses persist.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The flat roofline and angled exterior are complemented by a curving stair and lush garden just beyond.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Apr. 2026
-
When planning out your garden wall, consider curving the edges upward.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wonderlab’s focus will be creating wildly fun, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The focus is creating wildly fun, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Accordingly, the warring factions have competed to depict themselves as the true embodiment of MAGA and paint their rivals as undermining Trump or deviating from his precepts.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The plant is a clump-forming fern with arching stems.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Your 12th House of Silence hosts ambitious Mars, who’s cheering on Pluto in your 10th House of Audiences, turning private prep into public credibility without draining you.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
-
But the team wasted no time turning a new leaf.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If any one case is thrown out, Trump’s allies will just try again, hooking onto any conceivable excuse until both your will and your resources are depleted.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The trial is a test case, known as a bellwether, tied to about 2,000 other pending lawsuits brought by parents and school districts arguing that social media giants should be considered manufacturers of defective products for hooking a generation of young people to social media feeds.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swerving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swerving. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
