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
  • By 1913 Henry Ford’s moving-belt assembly line cut build time to 93 minutes, and cheap Texas oil kept the tank full, turning personal mobility from luxury to the default setting.
    Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 June 2025
  • And proves once again that Southerners can turn almost anything into a dip.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • That could include speeding, running a red light, swerving, or possible DWI behavior.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2025
  • The approaching line of low-flying Canadas swerved abruptly and, apparently just out of range, swung across my front.
    Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • For a fun twist, try switching out the regular crackers for a garlic or vegetable-flavored variety.
    Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 29 June 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • The next step, Thomson said, is to get Harper outside Friday to throw more and swing off a tee.
    Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 20 June 2025
  • Telfar bags swung next to kente cloth wraps, and authors like Clarence Haynes signed copies of his new novel, The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery, as lines snaked through the crowds.
    Essence, Essence, 19 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
  • At that point, roughly 70 million Social Security recipients would see their monthly benefits cut by about 20%.
    Alain Sherter, CBS News, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Brian Daboll told the Giants’ players before their final minicamp practice that their spring progress was encouraging, given what is coming around the bend.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
  • While older games in the series relied heavily on memorizing courses and perpetually driving with precision around every bend, there’s now a lot more ways to play catch up and get ahead.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 6 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 3 Jul. 2025.

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