1
as in deviated
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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2
as in swung
to change the course or direction of (something)
veered the ship abruptly to the right to avoid a collision
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in swerved
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
without warning the car veered to the left and into an oncoming truck
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of veered
Initially, the first draft of the script veered more into sci-fi horror territory.
—
Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 8 June 2026
In January 2008, as Herbert’s driving career was in its twilight, his real life veered well off course.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 7 June 2026
After several miles, the suspect veered into the middle lanes, still speeding at around 90 mph for most of the time.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Aiyuk, a 2020 first-round pick and two-time 1,000-yard receiver, mysteriously veered off the NFL grid the past eight months without public comment on a career in serious limbo.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Ukrainian officials apologized and said the drones were aimed at military targets in Russia, but veered off course by Russian electronic interference.
—Arkansas Online, 30 May 2026
Machado then veered off into what sounded like an excerpt from a manual written by Souza.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
The vehicle veered off the highway and crashed into the American River, said Officer Andrew Brown, a spokesperson for the CHP’s Placerville office.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
The motorcycle then veered to the left and into the paved median before striking a jersey median barrier, state police said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 May 2026
Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 8 June 2026
In January 2008, as Herbert’s driving career was in its twilight, his real life veered well off course.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 7 June 2026
After several miles, the suspect veered into the middle lanes, still speeding at around 90 mph for most of the time.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Aiyuk, a 2020 first-round pick and two-time 1,000-yard receiver, mysteriously veered off the NFL grid the past eight months without public comment on a career in serious limbo.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Ukrainian officials apologized and said the drones were aimed at military targets in Russia, but veered off course by Russian electronic interference.
—Arkansas Online, 30 May 2026
Machado then veered off into what sounded like an excerpt from a manual written by Souza.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
The vehicle veered off the highway and crashed into the American River, said Officer Andrew Brown, a spokesperson for the CHP’s Placerville office.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
The motorcycle then veered to the left and into the paved median before striking a jersey median barrier, state police said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for veered
Verb
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The square toe deviated from the quintessential round toe the Chanel cap-toe slingback is associated with, while the strap design played with cutouts and doubled around the ankle.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
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Rivals just deviated from Jilly Cooper's novels by killing off a major character in a mid-season twist.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Rice swung at the first pitch from left-hander Noah Cameron, a four-seam fastball, to hit a triple that took an awkward bounce off the left field wall and scattered away from Royals left fielder Isaac Collins past the foul line.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
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The company has also swung its strategy widely, from an embrace of low-carbon business lines to a hard pivot back to oil and gas.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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After Persepolis, Satrapi swerved in another direction with Embroideries, which was named after (and partially about) a cosmetic procedure for vaginal tightening.—
Hillary Chute,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
-
Clement swerved to his right to avoid Henderson’s tag with the infielder throwing to first, thinking that the runner would be called out for being out of the baseline.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The confessions of a paperboy turned journalist.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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What was supposed to be 30 minutes of catching up turned into two hours of orange-and-blue gushing.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The combination of sugar snap peas and whipped tofu with a sizzling oil drizzle is a meatless stunner.—
Ellie Krieger,
Washington Post,
10 June 2026
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Merchants in fine suits rode in carriages or on sedan chairs while enslaved people lugging carts and crates wore dirty, threadbare clothing and could be publicly whipped or burned to death for misbehavior.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The shortstop also rocketed a 441-foot, two-run home run off Giants right-hander Keaton Winn in the eighth to cut San Francisco’s lead to 4-3.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
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Based on 2026 opening day figures, eight teams would have to cut payroll to get under the cap.—
Ronald Blum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded to the shooting with several deputies and a helicopter that circled Jennings’ home.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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The mission will build on the Artemis II flight conducted in April, during which four astronauts circled the moon, traveling farther from Earth than any other previous space mission.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Red-Bodied Dog Tick Has your idiotic dog wandered onto a bucolic patch of grass that hasn’t been freshly treated with toxins?—
Jay Ruttenberg,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
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Baez’s sister described her brother as a free spirit who wandered up and down the East Coast, from Florida to his home state of Massachusetts, where his two children live with their mother.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Veered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/veered. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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