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
Her vocals are strong, creating an atmospheric timbre that veers from plaintive to lush. Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2025 Likewise, there’s a quiet, insular quality to the direction, by Naoko Yamada, that is at times beautifully evocative — especially when focused on the central characters’ facial expressions — but at other times can veer toward the prosaic. Maya Phillips, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
The talk in the room veers from pending royalties to Adorno. Hazlitt, 19 Dec. 2024 As Don, the principal, tries to handle a looming crisis, using every banality at his new-age disposal, the conversation in the chat veers correspondingly out of control. Jesse Green, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for veer 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veer
Verb
  • Chappell Roan did not deviate from her camp-meets-vintage aesthetic, wearing a voluminous vintage Jean Paul Gaultier gown from 2003, embellished with a screen print of Degas ballerinas on the skirt and topped by the ostrich-feather headdress that Gaultier used on that original runway.
    Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Feb. 2025
  • Honda, on the other hand, has deviated from the norm by submitting actual photos of a 300cc single-cylinder prototype.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This year, don’t be surprised if collectors looking for a hidden gem turn their focus to outsider art.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 29 Jan. 2025
  • Around the same time, a 25-year-old woman from Kansas was driving south in a Toyota, and collided with the Honda as the driver tried to turn west on U.S. 20-26, police said.
    Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Deputies say Medina swerved across lanes, changing speeds to evade police.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025
  • The algorithm is extraordinarily responsive: give a couple of videos a thumbs-up, and your whole feed swerves in a new ideological direction.
    Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • February 5, 2025 Meghan Markle’s style has always leaned towards laidback luxe—think camel tones and cashmere—but her off-duty wardrobe has taken on a more sentimental twist.
    Olivia Allen, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2025
  • The saga took an unexpected twist in 2006 when replacement singer Ronnie James Dio returned to the fold, and the band (minus Ward and Osbourne) dubbed themselves Heaven and Hell.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • However, after reading the groom-to-be's explanation on Reddit, many users have swung behind him in support.
    Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
  • These aspects come with a price, too, as average tags swing from 850 euros for a shirt and around 1,300 euros for knitwear up to 4,200 euros for a double cashmere coat.
    Sandra Salibian, WWD, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Crews found heavy flames coming from the front of the home and focused their efforts on search and rescue while also cutting holes in the roof of the house to release smoke and gas, the Fire Department said in a social media post.
    Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2025
  • Stocks rapidly cut those losses after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Trump struck a deal to delay the tariffs for one month.
    Paulina Likos, CNBC, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The first time Team Rubicon used used this was in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, which hit the Big bend area of Florida.
    Kristin Shaw, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend Wide-angle seated forward bend is a stretch of the inner thighs and backs of the legs.
    Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Unlike a lot of Canadian petroleum products that arrive here via pipeline and is difficult to divert to another market, Mexican oil and gasoline arrives primarily via ship, so it can easily be sold elsewhere.
    Chris Isidore, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025
  • The tariffs have not resulted in any oil supplies being taken off the market, and will result in a redistribution of supplies as Mexico and Canada look to divert their volumes to Europe and Asia, Lipow added.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near veer

Cite this Entry

“Veer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veer. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.

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