veer 1 of 2

1
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction at this point the river veers to the southwest before finally emptying into the Atlantic Ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

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veer

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb veer contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of veer are depart, deviate, digress, diverge, and swerve. While all these words mean "to turn aside from a straight course," veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

When would depart be a good substitute for veer?

While in some cases nearly identical to veer, depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

When could deviate be used to replace veer?

The synonyms deviate and veer are sometimes interchangeable, but deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

In what contexts can digress take the place of veer?

Although the words digress and veer have much in common, digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

How do diverge and depart relate to one another, in the sense of veer?

Diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions.

after school their paths diverged

When might swerve be a better fit than veer?

The words swerve and veer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

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 veer
Verb
After intermission, the show veers into Southern California to, somewhat puzzlingly, a statue of Helena Modjeska, a Polish emigree better known for her Shakespearean acting than for making art. Daniella Walsh, Oc Register, 10 July 2025 Speculation over who may succeed Khamenei veers from hardliners like his 55-year-old son Mojtaba Khamenei and 52-year-old Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini, to past reform-minded presidents such as Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Khatami. Jackie Northam, NPR, 9 July 2025
Noun
His latest doesn’t veer from this interest but instead doubles down on it. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025 Seeking to chronicle some of Jacobs’ interests and obsessions, Coppola can veer too far afield. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for veer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veer
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 manager did not believe a lineup that had slugged the most home runs in the National League needed to deviate from its identity to finally produce runs with a modicum of consistency.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Their next goal is to turn the system into a practical tool for early fire detection.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
  • While wildfire season in Arizona used to arrive in spring and reliably end by the monsoon, fire seasons have turned into fire years as the blazes become more erratic and frequent.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The first season of Origins ended in a cliffhanger; Lala (Mariel Molino) was seriously injured in a car accident after swerving to avoid a child.
    The Deadline TV Team, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Bates' car swerved off the freeway and came to a rest in a culvert, police said.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Lovevook Travel Duffel Bag The puffer trend has gotten a travel twist with the Lovevook Duffel Bag.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
  • And with a unique twist that sets them above the competition.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For a locker room that’s been through a lot because the front office swung and missed on the worst quarterback trade in NFL history.
    Zac Jackson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Busta also received an assist from Papoose and Joyner Lucas, all of them sharing lyrical wordplay and seamless tradeoffs as Busta swung between his trademark dichotomy of rapping to gruff bellowing.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Initially lined up outside, Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones quickly cut inside to beat the right tackle.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
  • On the northeast of the fire, by Sugar Pine Mountain, crews worked in steep, inaccessible terrain to bring containment lines into the natural rock bluff, trying to cut the fire off south of the Wishon Reservoir for the protection of the critical hydroelectric infrastructure.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Instead of going dark, some sunlight still reaches the moon, glowing red because Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters the sunlight.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • At that point, the land on the flood-prone bend was still protected by the Len Small Levee, built in 1943 and named for an Illinois governor.
    Molly Parker, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And major studios are making fewer prestige films of the kind that once used Toronto as a launching pad, preferring to divert more resources to action-heavy blockbusters and family fare.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Talk of bringing in the National Guard is less a solution than a distraction — a show of force that diverts attention away from the deeper investments communities need.
    Debra Gittler, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Veer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veer. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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