veer 1 of 2

Definition of veernext
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

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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
This can veer Mediterranean, all-American, and more—choose your preferred locale and menu and let your nails be your proverbial picnic blanket. Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 19 June 2026 The blush-pink colorway and delicate bow feel feminine without veering overly precious, while the sporty sole lends a casual touch. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2026
Noun
His friends, from brother Luigi (Charlie Day) to Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) veer in a similar direction, somehow coming across less fully formed and three-dimensional than their nearly speechless inspirations from Nintendo‘s flagship franchise. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026 The Horned Frogs had a mix of air raid and veer-and-shoot principles under Briles, but are expected to move more to a pro-style scheme under Sammis, who had excellent success with that style of offense at UConn. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for veer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veer
Verb
  • The final point is that markets often deviate from rewarding the long-term drivers of stock performance, like valuation and quality, which makes sticking with a winning formula very difficult.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • The one state that deviated from this was Kentucky, which chose red velvet as its favorite cake.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • By building circuits whose states naturally fluctuate with this environmental heat, thermodynamic computing turns an otherwise stochastic and chaotic feature of nature into an incredibly fast, ultra-low-energy calculator.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
  • Lestat is basically in Hell; having turned Nicky, he is now forever severed from him mentally, while Nicky’s mental state continues to deteriorate.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Drivers need to brake firmly and stay in the lane instead of swerving.
    Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • The elegant staging tries to compensate, but the performers have to rely a little too heavily on their own charms to make up the difference in a play that swerves unexpectedly at the end into a cutesy fairy tale.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • In a strange twist, the potential buyer reportedly smelled a rat and reached out to someone with the company, to make sure the machinery hadn’t been stolen.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • Then again, and again, stopping each time to adjust for a beat, a movement, the flow of actors in the room, a twist of a hand, an arm thrown that way, not this way.
    Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Any behavior requires a coordinated action across the brain—swing a baseball bat, complete a math problem—and the more the action is repeated, the more the associated neural pathways will strengthen.
    James Davis, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • Ryan returned the favor in the fourth, getting Dalton Rushing, Freeland and Ohtani to all swing and miss.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Kirkmeyer has campaigned on affordability and safety issues, Bottoms is pushing for a redo of the state's education system among other things and Marx wants to cut regulations and lower the cost of living.
    Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 27 June 2026
  • Terrell Carstens, a 25-year resident of Brookhaven, said she is frustrated the city made little effort to find places to cut costs instead of raising the rate.
    Reed Williams, AJC.com, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • Despite Iran’s threats, 20 of those ships had taken a route far south of Iran that hugs the coastline of the United Arab Emirates and bends along Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, avoiding Iranian waters.
    Matthew Mulligan, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • Then around the bend came the Carys in their canoe.
    Hank Bradshaw, Outdoor Life, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • The California Highway Patrol's Woodland division said traffic was being diverted off the freeway at Reed Avenue.
    Richard Ramos, CBS News, 24 June 2026
  • Bessent did not specify how much money would be released, which entity in Qatar would control the account, where the funds would be held, what role Iran would play in directing purchases or what enforcement tools the Treasury would use to ensure the money is not diverted.
    Luke Fountain, CNBC, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Veer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veer. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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