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
The movie veers from character study and brother bonding to an action nail-biter. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 26 Apr. 2025 After a harrowing emergency landing on a remote island controlled by anti-government militias, the film veers into full-throttle jungle mayhem, with Butler and Colter teaming up for a violent fight for survival. Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Noun
The car veered off the side of the road and ultimately hit a pole, per the outlet. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 15 June 2025 The driver then veered off the right side of the road, hit a pole, and rolled the car onto the passenger side. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for veer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veer
Verb
  • The fatal flight’s initial trajectory in the air is also somewhat typical and does not deviate significantly from the previous seven Air India Flight 171 departures from Ahmedabad, according to historical flight data.
    Mika Gröndahl, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • The image had shown a dessert dramatically deviating from the typical McDonald's serving, yet presented without explanation—leaving much to speculation.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The downside is that each method has a potential reaction from the AGI or ASI that could turn things ugly.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • In the multicam comedy, per the logline, Leanne’s (Morgan) world is turned upside down when her husband of 33 years unexpectedly leaves her for another woman.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Bevan swerved several times into Jackson’s lane but did not hit Jackson’s vehicle, according to court documents.
    Corina Vanek, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025
  • For the most part, Thorne’s direction is assured, ably swerving between the nail-biting tension of the principal story and the comedic elements of its subplots.
    Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • After a season packed with surprising twists, bloodshed, and danger, The Waterfront wraps with a dramatic and intense finale.
    Allison DeGrushe Published, EW.com, 29 June 2025
  • For a fun twist, try switching out the regular crackers for a garlic or vegetable-flavored variety.
    Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • As a tugboat pushed against the front right side of the ship, the back of the vessel began to swing toward the Brooklyn Bridge.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 30 June 2025
  • Anyone hankering for a Beaver Nugget break on their travels can swing by the new spot, which is located right off I-81 in Rockingham County.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • The prospect of trying to cut open a stubborn 5-4-1 block in the Orlando heat could have become torturous quite quickly.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • According to a report on Bloomberg, MSFT is planning to cut thousands of jobs in its Xbox gaming division.
    MoneyShow, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The visitor center offers an overview of the rock art; the park managers don’t disclose the rock-art locations because the works are prone to erosion, but a web of hiking trails in the park introduces the stone overhangs and river bends that might once have provided refuge.
    Elaine Glusac, AFAR Media, 26 June 2025
  • On the walk back to the observatory, our group reached a familiar bend in the path.
    Michael Jones McKean, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Severe weather conditions in the area led to ground stops and flights being diverted at the airport on Friday.
    Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 28 June 2025
  • Sharing surplus meals through community apps like Too Good To Go helps to address food insecurity while diverting food from landfills.
    Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Veer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veer. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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